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THE AMERICAN 



Chrysanthemum Annual 



1895 



EDITED BY 



MICHAEL BARKER, 

Horticultural Department Cornell University. State Vice-President Society of American Florists. 



PRICE, ONE DOLLAR. 







PUBLISHED BY 

THE MAYFLOWER PUBLISHING COMPANY, 

Floral Park, N. Y. -n^--^ 



Copyright, 1S95, uv Michael Baukee. 



cO-^ 



K\^ 



PREFACE. 

A It ANY of our most prominent Chrysanthemum growers have felt the need 
-* ' * of a publication in which comment on the principal matters of current 
interest could be preserved in a form convenient for reference purposes, 
and they have at various times warmly urged the establishment of some such 
work as the Annual aims to be, viz., a repository of information on all questions 
relating to the flower of autumn. I have no desire to ignore the excellent 
work which is being done by our horticultural and floricultural journals; but 
it is felt that the pressure of other weighty subjects does not permit the editors 
of those papers to devote that space and attention to the Chrysanthemum which 
its growing importance demands, hence this production. 

I feel grateful to the numerous friends in all parts of the world who have 
so ably helped to make this issite of the book worthy of the flower ; to the 
Mayflower Publishing Company for most cordial and generous support in the 
undertaking, and to the Union and Advertiser Company, of Rochester, ISi. Y., 
for the excellent style in which the mechanical work has been executed. 

MICHAEL BARKER. 

Ithaca, N. Y., April, 1895. 



CONTENTS. 



The Flower from the East, 

By Percy T. Ingram, ....-.-.-. i 

The Past Season, 

By- the Editor and Chas. E. Shea, ....... 2 

Early American History, 

By Edgar Sanders, ...-.------ 5 

Specimen Plants, 

By T. D HaTFiei<d, .......... 7 

The National Society of England, 

By C Harman Payne, ..-.....- 11 

Beds and Benches, 

By Edwin IyONSDAi.E, E. G. HiLi, and Wm, Thicker, ----- 14 

Outdoor Culture, 

By James Scott, ..--.-.--.. 16 

The American Society, 

By the Editor, ....-----.- 17 

Some Neglected Groups, 

By E. O. OrpET, -..-.----.- 18 

Seeds and Seedlings, 

By Elmer D Smith, .-......-- 19 

Men of fioie—lVilh nine portraits. 

By the Editor, ----------- 20 

American Varieties in Europe, 

By O. de Meulenaere -and H. Shoesmith, .-..--. 23 

Fungous Diseases — llhisimted. 

By Prof. Byron D. Halsted, ---..... 24 

The Qolden Wedding "XrovXyX^— Illustrated, 

By G. M.assee, ........... 28 

European Varieties in America, 

B\' John N. May, Thos. H. Spaulding and Patrick O'Mara, . - . 29 

Insect Friends and Enemies, 

B\' THE Editor, --.-.-. ---.30 

Australian Methods, 

By H. J- Carter, ...------- 32 

Canadian Notes, 

By a. H. Ewing, -----------33 

In Far China, 

BY' A. B. Westland, -.---.---- 34 

Varieties of the Future, 

By Wilwam Scott, ---------- 35 

Crown Buds and Terminals, 

By James Brydox, John Dyer .and Groye P. Rawson, - - - . 36 

The Best Varieties, 

B\- American Experts, ..--.-----37 

Progress in New Zealand, 

By John Button, .-.-.-..-- 40 

American Varieties of \9>95—Ilticstrated, 

By the Editor, ..-..------ 41 

Notes and Gleanings, 

Originai, and Selfxted, from Various Sources, ..... 43 



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—THE AMERICAN— 

Chrysanthemum Annual 

THE FLOWER FROM THE EAST. 

FROM East to West the tide of progress flows, 
Still moving with the circle of the sun. 
From Egypt's sands and from the Assyrian plains 
The wave of conquest and the arts of war 
Passed on to Greece and Rome, to Frank and Gaul. 
When the great Spanish Captain, for whose soul 
The seaways of the ancients were too small. 
Set forth to find new worlds upon the wave, 
He flung his sails to catch the sunrise winds 
To waft him to the undiscovered West, — 
The West, the sunset and the Great Unknown. 
At length, as ever to the West he swept, 
O'er the broad waters of the untracked main, 
Up rose the vision of a distant shore, — 
The Realm of Infinite Promise, blue Atlantis ! 
Thus westward ever moves the conqueror. 

But not alone by force of arms and war 

The tide of conquest to the sunset flows ; 

But creeds, philosophies, and schools of thought. 

And the soft arts of peace, from eastward come. , 

And here I hymn the praise and sing the fame 

Of a fair victor from the sunrise lands, — 

The gracious mother of a peaceful craft, 

A conqueror of men's hearts, — the flaunting flower. 

Star-like and of innumerable hues. 

Whose sunny home amid the ancient East 

Is the ancestral isles of far Japan. 

A universal language is the love 

Of flowers ; a tongue by all men understood. 

Linking in universal brotherhood 

All nations, and all races, and all creeds. 

Laughing to scorn the curse of Babel's pile. 

It fosters in man's soul the love of Beauty, 

And hence, unconsciously, of the Divine ; 

For beauty is the symbol and the type 

Of perfect spiritual harmony. 

It ministers to culture and to art. 

Unyoking from man's spirit many a care ; 

Bringing him in touch with balmy air. 

And summer sunshine, and the song of birds. 

And of all flowers that spring from mother earth, 
None is more fair than this from far Japan. 
It is the queenly victor of all hearts ; 
And since all nations are its willing slaves, 
A conqueror than Semiramis more great. 
Fair fortune to this fair flower from the East ! 

— Percy T. Ingram. 



THE PAST SEASON. 



A GREAT deal of progress has been made in Chrysan- 
themum matters during the past )'ear, and the 
friends of the flower in every quarter have reason 
to feel proud of the good worlj that has been accom- 
plished. Some of the comparatively recent departures in 
methods of culture are yielding good results, more par- 
ticularly the bench and bed systems. These, however, 
are essentially the methods of the florists, whose principal 
aim is to produce good marketable flowers. It is a pleasure 
to note genuine progress in any department ; but when 
advancement in one particular is accompanied by neglect, 
njt to say retrogression, in others, the outlook is hardly so 
satisfactory. And it must be candidly acknowledged that 
all types of Chrysanthemums, except those that produce the 
largest and showiest flowers, have been neglected. Several 
of the contributors to the present volume have noted with 
regret the marked tendency in this direction, and many 
others whose names do not appear here have written repeat- 
edly in the same strain. But the florists are not to blame ; 
like e.xemplary men they are attending assiduously to their 
own business, and with such result that their products are 
crowding out of the market, and I may say out of cultiva- 
tion, those groups of varieties the neglect of which is so 
universally decried. It is also urged that the horiicultural 
and Chrysanthemum societies are at fault in not offering 
suitable prizes for plants and blooms of all the t'j-pes. The 
florists, it is held, by strength of numbers, rule in most of 
the societies, and arrange matters so that the monetary and 
honorary awards will be conferred on their favorites. 

This is an absurd view of the case, and one that most 
certainly can not commend itself to those who really know 
something of the opinions and actions of our commercial 
brethren. They are a most self-sacrificing body of men, 
who are at all times anxious to do anything and everything 
in their power to promote the interests of horticulture and 
floriculture in the widest aspect of those terms. They 
devote many precious days to the consideration and solution 
of very perple.xing problems to the advantage of the entire 
gardening public. The exhibitions, with the management 
of which they are concerned, are regulated to meet the 
requirements of every individual so far as may be practi- 
cable ; and if the arrangements are not at all times perfect, 
the fault lies with the amateurs and other grumblers who 
see so many glariag blunders, and yet never enter the socie- 
ties to help with their judgment and counsel. Advance, 
ladies and gentlemen, and call attention to the errors you 
tee so plainly. I have yet to learn of one horticultural or 
florlcultural society from which any of you who take a gen- 
uine interest in gardening will be excluded. Then join the 
societies and help with the work. Tell the florists plainly 
what you think of them and their methods, and I will 
guarantee you respectful attention on their part, and their 
heartiest assistance in making any worthy change you can 
suggest. 

In this connection, however, it is gratifying to observe 



that the pompons, perhaps the most deserving of all the 
neglected sections, are coming to the front again. Messrs. 
Pitcher & Manda, of Short Hills, N. J., have Avery pleas- 
ing and truthful colored picture of them in their current 
catalogue, and while this is only a small matter, it shows 
something of that desire on the part of all nurserymen and 
florists to meet the needs of the public. The great difli- 
culty is lo get at a proper understanding of the demands of 
a community, and there is no better way of giving publicity 
to this than by gathering the interested parties together in a 
local society, and therein giving full expression to individ- 
ual ideas. Six or eight interested ladies or gentlemen may 
start such a society ; the local florists will help, and special- 
ists in distant cities, if properly approached, are always 
pleased to assist young societies by contributing material of 
the highest excellence for exhibitions. All the great Chrys- 
anthemum and other special floral societies throughout the 
world have set out upon their prosperous careers in some 
such small way, and there is still abundance of room for 
others like them. 

Such societies indeed are now fairly numerous in all parts 
of the country, and the Chrysanthemum is by no means 
neglected in the exhibitions, although there is practically 
unlimited room for extension. The historians tell us that 
the first Chrysanthemum exhibition in America was held in 
Boston in iS68, with prizes to the amount of fifty-five dol- 
lars, but last year there were upwards of fifty such exhibi- 
tions in various parts of the United States and Canada, and 
the smallest one of these was vastly superior to the earliest 
attempt. As a further illustration of the rate of progress, 
it may be mentioned that while the Massachusetts Horticul- 
tural Society offered only fifty-five dollars in prizes for 
Chrysanthemums in 1868, the amount awarded by the same 
society in 1894 was $1,147, exclusive of numerous gratuities 
which are not given in the regular prize list. But this should 
not be taken as a proof that large money prizes are essential 
in starting an exhibition ; ribbons of various colors, and 
appropriately inscribed, will serve the same purpose for the 
first two or three years, introducing money, medals and 
other more costly prizes as the society grows sufficiently, 
strong and rich to afford them. 

The improvement of varieties continues, as will be seen 
from our illustrations, all of which have been faithfully 
reproduced from photographs. The growers of seedlings 
bid fair to establish a race of Chrysanthemums that will 
produce flowers of the highest quality on dwarf stems of 
stout build, flowers in fact that will stand anywhere on their 
stems as well as on their merits. The blooms are also pro- 
gressing in size, form and general finish — that is, the blooms 
of the large flowered kinds — but so far there is no very 
decided advance in color. There is still room for improve- 
ment among the pinks and crimsons, and, of course, the 
Anemone, pompon and single groups are open to all the 
good influences of the hybridizer. The reports of the beha- 
vior of the AmericaQ seedlings abroad are very encouraging, 



THE PAST SEASON. 



and in many cases surprising. While our best varieties 
rarely succeed so well in other countries as they do at home, 
those of medium and even inferior quality often make quite 
a respectable showing at the foreign exhibitions, and indeed 
a great many of our older varieties are now seldom heard of 
except through the reports of such exhibitions, or through 
mention in the catalogues published abroad. There is a 
large and increasing demand for good seedlings in Europe 
and elsewhere, and our raisers should look to it and see 
that nothing is discarded which, although not suited to our 
climate, may prove of value under other conditions of atmos- 
phere and cultivation. 

There has been much complaint about the dispatch of 
new varieties from America so late in the season that no h- 
ing of value can be done with them in foreign countries 
until the following year. This means a serious disappoint- 
ment to the purchaser, and ultimately perhaps a great loss 
to the distributer. It could easily be remedied by making 
arrangements with agents abroad, and forwarding stock 
plants in autumn, instead of waiting for the weather of the 
following spring to open up so as to permit of the shipment 
of young stock. Every such delay entails the loss of a 
season to the American raiser, and a corresponding gain to 
his European competitors. And the American growers must 
now look well to their laurels, for there is great activity at 
the present time among those of England and France. 
The triumph of the season was scored by Mr. Hugh 
Graham, of Philadelphia. Pa., in being awarded the high- 
est honor at the disposal of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society of England, for blooms of his splendid new variety, 
Philadelphia, grown in this country. It remains to be 
seen, however, whether this grand example of the work of 
American seedling raisers will retain its supremacy under 
the fickle skies of Great Britain ; but to grow the flowers 
here, ship them to Europe, and then, in the headquarters of 
all that is best in the wide world of Chrysanthemums, to 
secure the highest award, was truly a laudable achievement. 

-M. B. 
IN ENGLAND. 

The December show of the English National Chrysan- 
themum Society — last year held on the 4th of that month — 
is generally accepted in this country as the close of the 
Chrysanthemum season, and, competition over, the time at 
last arrives when the floral athlete may rest from the con- 
flict and survey the position, not only in reference to the 
past season but with a view to the renewal of the battle in 
the coming year. 

What have proved to be the best varieties for exhibition ? 
What the most enduring, in public esteem, of the established 
varieties ? Again, which are the most desirable of the 
numberless aspirants for favor amongst the armies of new 
varieties which seem to be marching upon us from the 
four quarters of the globe ? These are the questions 
which now present themselves to the mind of the exhibitor. 

Then comes the after- thought ; How has the late season 
affected certain of those varieties with which our acquaint- 
ance is at present but scant ? Has it seemed to give them 
a fair test, or should we submit them to further trial upon 



discarding those which have given us results more or less 
disappointing ? And we have, naturally, looked for great 
things in some cases, by reason of the reports whtch have 
reached us from their country of origin — notably from the 
United States. And so we have to look into matters a 
little closely, for there can be no question of the fact that a 
good selection of varieties is half the battle fought. 

Well, the seasons in England in 1893 and in 1894 have 
been less of the " sample " character than usual. We have 
had things more " in bulk " and wholesale. The year 1893 
presented us with a drought phenomenal in its intensity and 
endurance, while 1894, in its later period, made up in 
many districts all the water held back in 1893, with a good 
contribution towaras any deficit which might occur in 1895. 
And, again, while the months of August, September and 
October, in 1893, furnished us with 445 hours of sunlight — 
and pretty good sunlight, too, for this country — 1894 pro- 
vided us, during the same period, with but 247 hours, and 
even these, with a sunlight of somewhat watery and diluted 
character. 

And so it follows that neither year provided us with what 
may be called a typical season. It is quite within the 
bounds of possibility, therefore, that certain varieties having 
a deservedly high reputation on the other side of the 
Atlantic may yet, in a typical season, fully justify in this 
country the reputation which came with them 

However extreme in certain respects as was the season of 
1S94, it unquestionably suited some varieties perfectly ; in- 
deed, by far a larger proportion of varieties, especially in 
the Japanese sections, were suited by the wet and sunless 
summer than received injury therefrom. This, of course, 
applies to those varieties the character of which is already 
well known on our side ; but what may have been the effect 
on the American new varieties we can only hope to assist to 
a conclusion by sending across the Atlantic an account of 
their behavior in English gardens under the climatic con- 
ditions which have prevailed ; and this, to the best of my 
ability, I propose to do. 

But my American friends may first like to have some in- 
formation as to Ihe relative positions in this country of the 
whole of the varieties, from whatever source, which are 
more or less favorably regarded by our growers for exhibi- 
tion. 

Unfortunately, a clue in the direction indicated is not 
afforded by the proceedings of the floral committee of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society, for the fact undeniably 
is that for some reason orothernot quite clear, the decisions 
of the floral committee have not received, to the extent 
which is desirable, that confirmation and support on the 
part of the general body of exhibitors which is furnished 
by the subsequent appearance upon the exhibition stand of 
the varieties certificated. Too large a percentage of these 
varieties do not appear to secure public attention after their 
first appearance in the committee room. Possibly the dark 
and unsuitable chamber — -I .was on the point of writing 
duageon — sometimes used by the committee maybe responsi- 
ble for the result, or it may be that the personnel of the 
committee is not in sufficiently keen appreciation of that 



THE PAST SEASON. 



standard of excellence which finds general acceptance with 
the exhibiting public, but the fact remains as I have stated. 
1 do not say that the leading varieties have not been cer- 
tificated — most of them have — S3me before and some after 
they have received the seal of public recognition of their 
merits ; but it is also unquestionably the fact that a very 
great many varieties certificated are practically never seen 
at all upon the show boards, or have a very ephemeral ex- 
istence there. I state this so that growers on the other side 
may not be misled by an overestimate of the meaning of a 
certificate of the floral committee of the National Chrysan- 
themum .Society. 

But there remains that which after all is really the best 
test of the suitability of a variety for exhib.tion, namely, 
the outcome of the struggle for existence on the exhibition 
table. We have in these results the opinions of no narrow 
section, but the practical evidence of the views of those 
whose one object is to do the best they can to win in the 
floral contest. And so an audit of the varieties appearing 
on sixty of the first prize stands, taken from the leading 
shows throughout the United Kingdom, will serve to indi- 
cate which have been the favorite and most reliable varieties 
in the season just closed, so far as this country is concerned. 

The following relates onl)' to Japanese varieties : 

Times 
Name. Exhibited. 
Charles Davis 51 

Viviand Morel \b 

Mrs. C. Harman Payne ^5 

E. Molyneux- _ 39 

Mdlle. Therese Rey 36 

Sunflower 35 

Mdlle. Marie Hoste _ 35 

Etoile de Lyon 31 

W. H. Lincoln 30 

G. C. Schwabe _ -27 

Miss Dorothea Shea 25 

Florence Davis . 25 

Avalanche 23 

Col. W. 13. Smith 23 

W. Tricker 22 

Stanstead White ^ 20 

W. Seward 20 

Mrs . Falconer Jameson iS 

Mrs. E W.Clarke iS 

President Borel 15 

Louise 15 

Princess May : 14 

Duke of York 14 

Primrose League 13 

M. Panckoucke 12 

Excelsior 12 

Viscountess Hambledon it 

Boule d'Or 1 1 

Gloire du Rocher 11 

W. W. Coles 10 

M. Bernard to 

J.Shrimpton g 

Mdme. C. Moline 9 



Amos Perry Q 

Niveus 7 

G. W.Childs 7 

Souvr. de Petite Amie . 7 

Silver King 6 

J. S. Dibbens .--'- 6 

Alberic Lunden 

Eda Prass 6 

Waban __ _ 6 

H , L. S'jnderbruch 6 

Mdme. A. E. Carriere - ; ... 6 

G. Shrimpton 5 

Prefet Robert _ 5 

Lilian B. Bird ; 5 

Vice-President Audiguier 5 

Mdme, C. Capitant. -. -.. 5 

International 5 

Annie Hartshorn 5 

Mdme. Octavie Mirabeau 5 

Mdme. A. Chatin _ 5 

Beauty of Exmouth 4 

Kentish Yellow 4 

Beauty of Castlewood .- 4 

C. Blick : . 4 

R. Brocklebank 4 

Le Prince du Bois _ 4 

Mrs. Hubbock 4 

Condor _. 4 

Violetta 4 

R. Owen 4 

Puritan 3 

Mdme. Ad . Giroud 3 

Van den Ileede 3 

Golden Dragon 3 

Lady Saunders 3 

Mdme. Carnot 3 

T. Wilkins 3 

Good Gracious 3 

Duchess of Devonshire — 3 

Mdme. Audiguier 3 

Lord Brooke 3 

Thunberg 3 

Golden Gate 3 

Princess Victoria 3 

White Louis Boehmer 3 

It will be seen from the above list that honors are fairly 
divided between England, the United States, France and 
Japan. Perhaps the most striking point in the above 
(probably due to the season) is the tremendous fall in the 
position of Lord Brooke {^Pitcher df Manda) which was in 
the first eighteen last year. Golden Gate (Japan) is a very 
late variety, as is Robert Owen, both of which appeared in 
fine form in December. So also did Silver King (English). 
Surprise will probably be felt at the position of Mrs. C. 
Ilarman Payne ; but unfortunately so many judgesat shows 
favor mere size, however accompanied by coarseness, that 
such varieties are still sought after. 



\'l. < 




EZETA. 

NATUBiL SIZE. 



EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY. 



DeaUng with essentially American varieties, the following 
liave been suited by the season, and have been shown in 
excellent form : 

W. W. Coles. Craig. Especially in Scotland and 

the north of England. 
Niveus. Siuitli ^ Son. 
Primrose League. Pitcher S^ Manda. 
Sarah Hill. Spaulding. 
Waban. Fewkes. 
W. G. Newitt. mil &= Co. 
C. B. Whitnall. Bill 6- Co. 
E.Lonsdale. JFti/crer, Good in the north, but lacks 

size in the south of England. 
Garnet. Spaulding. An old variety which has been 

very fine. 
Silver Cloud, Spaulding. 
JMrs. E. D. Adams. Pitcher &• Manda. Late in the 

season very good, 
Mrs. D. Ward. Pitcher b' Manda. 
A. T. Ewing. Hill &^ Co. 
Later American novelties which were well shown in 
1S94 ; 

H. L. Sunderbruch. IFa/s. Unfortunately with us 

of a weak constitution 
William Bolia. IValz. 
The Queen. Wak, 
Dr. H. D. Hull. Smilk &■ Sou. 
Abbie Mendenhall. mil dr' Co. Very fine. 
Sir E. T, Smith. Pitcher &r Manda. 
Duchess of Wellington. Pitcher &= Manda. 
Mrs, W. H. Lees. Pitcher &= Manda. 
Mrs, J. G. lis, Siez'ers. One bloom shown was 

splendid. 
Older American varieties which appear not to have been 
suited by the season, 

William Tricker. Surnam. 
Col. W. B. Smith. Spaulding. 
Beauty of Castlewobd. Spaulding. 
Mrs. Charles Wheeler. Water er. 
The Tribune. Pitcher &^ Manda. 
Miss Annie Hartshorn. JVatercr. 
Mrs, T. Denne. Pitc/ier ^^ Manda. 
G. W. Childs. Thorpe. 
Eda Brass. Dorner. 



Lord Brooke. Pitcher &^ Manda, 

President W. R. Smith, mil &' Co. 
It has been a curious result of the wet and sunless season 
that those varieties which are inclined to the incurved sec- 
tion of the Japanese, for instance Lord Brooke, William 
Tricker, Miss Annie Hartshorn, etc., have come loose and 
more or less reflexed, their usual incurved character being 
in cases almost lost. The whole of these varieties have 
declined in position in the audits of 1894, as compared 
with those of 1S93. 

Varieties having special repute in America, but not so 
far appearing, to realize expectations in England. 
Harry E, Widener. mil &- Co. 
Harry May. Pitcher &= Manda 
Black Beauty, mil 6^ Co. 
Robert Mclnnes. m'll 6^ Co. 
Wyndmoor. Spaulding. Bad grower. 
Mrs. Jerome Jones. Vaughan. 
Roslyn, Spaulding. 
Emma Hitzeroth, Spaulding. 
Ed. Hatch, mil & Co. 
Emily Ladenburg. Spaulding. Bad grower. 
Harry Balsley. Smith i5^ Son. Bad grower. 
Mrs. J. W. Crouch, mil &' Co. Bad grower. 
Brydon Junior. Spaulding. Bad grower. 
Olga. Vaughan. 
Maud Dean, mil Sf Co. 
Ruth Cleveland. Spaulding. Very uncertain 

I have excluded from the above all those varieties, so far 
as known, which reached this country from the United 
States, but which were derived originally from Japan, such 
as Golden Gate, Lilian B. Bird, Golden Wedding and 
Hairy Wonder. 

Exhibitors in this country necessarily rely to a great 
extent for their new varieties upon those countries having 
climatic conditions more favorable to the raising of seed- 
lings than has the United Kingdom, although of late years 
great progress has been made in this country. Still, France, 
and above all the United States, must retain for a long 
time to come the lead which has been obtained, and to those 
countries we must mainly look for new recruits to the army 
of varieties. 



Poofs Cray, Kent, Englajid. 



-Charles E. Shea. 



EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY. 



ANYONE who has ever interested himself in the 
/\ early history of horticulture as a whole in this 
*■ A- country, to say nothing of the individual history 
of flowering plants — when introduced, whether by seeds or 
the plant itself, and by whom — if his inquiries go back 
beyond say 1835, when onr first horticultural magazine was 
started, or seven years before, when the first agricultural 
paper appeared, he will find but little to pay him for his 
trouble ; and in the case of many plants can at best only 



proceed by inference of such as he is seeking from the inci- 
dental mention of others in letters to European countries, 
notes of travelers and memoranda of such kinds, there being 
nothing whatever of a general botanical or horticultural 
character to guide him in his investigations. Nay, more, as 
fruits and vegetables, or something to sustain the sturdy 
pioneer was of far more consequence than mere flowers in 
those days, he will search in vain for very much to aid him 
in way of Chrysanthemum lore for the first .twenty years, 



EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY. 



even after Hovey's and Downing's magazines were first 
published, and that from the simple fact that the flowering 
of this well-named autumn queen occurred at a time of the 
year when most shows and gatherings of the period were 
over for the season ; and were it not for the occasional 
meetings of such organizations as the Massachusetts, New 
Yorl: and Pennsylvania horticultural societies, there would 
be absolutely nothing of a reliable character open to con- 
sultation. 

It is highly probable that in some of the old colonial 
homes of Maryland, Virginia, and the like, our now popular 
flower of the autumn exhibitions was a noted garden favor- 
ite, as it had become in the more vigorous eastern Atlantic 
states, when greenhouses' were little more than half-opaque 
orangeries, and even structures of such unsatisfactory char- 
acter few and far between. The late Shirley Hibberd is 
authority for the statement that the Chrysanthemum was 
introduced into America about 1820, or earlier ; but so far 
as we have been able to trace, it is not until 1S26 that we 
have actual evidence of the presence of the plant in this 
country. A Mr. Prince, writing under date of February 
14th, in that year, and describing the stock cultivated in his 
nursery at Flushing, N. Y. , among many other plants 
enumerates thirty-two varieties of the Chrysanthemum.* It 
was only seven years previous, or in 1819, that the late Samuel 
Brookes, then of London, England, received an assortment 
of nesv varieties from his collector, Mr. Poole, who had 
been sent expressly to China in search of them. This Mr. 
Brookes — who settled in Chicago in 1833, and died there 
September 5, 1875 — was a much respected florist during 
the period of his residence in this country, and he has been 
called the father of the Chrysanthemum. "At the time of 
his decease," writes Mr. C. Harman Payne, "there was 
probably no other man who could claim to have been 
acquainted with the Chrysanthemum for so long a period," 

The varieties in cultivation, named in part or distinguished 
by the color and form of the flowers, as the special naming 
of sorts did not take place until many years later, are given 
the first year after the incorporation of the Massachusetts 
Horticultural Society, in 1829 — probably at the November 
meeting of 1830 — as follows : Quilled Flame, Curled 
Lilac, Tasselled White, Golden Lotus, Large Lilac, Change- 
able Buff, Paper White, Crimson, Pink, Lilac, White, 
Semi-Quilled White, Parks' Small Yellow, Golden Yellow, 
Quilled Lilac and Quilled White. This society, by the 
way, also made the first appropriation for plant and flower 
premiums about the same time, although it is hardly 
likely that the Chrysanthemums of the period were consid- 
ered worthy of such honors, at least there is no mention of 
any award being made. The chronicles afford nothing of 
interest again until the year 1844, when, in further reference 
to the Boston society, we are told : ' ' The show of Chrys- 
anthemums on November 2d was very fine." Not to be 
behindhand, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, on 
November 17, 1S46, awarded Benjamin GuUis, gardener to 
Jacob Snider, Jr., three dollars for the best twelve named 

*Gard. Mag., Jan., 1827, p. go. 



varieties, and a second prize of two dollars to Archibald 
Henderson. The committee also mentions " the general 
fine display" of the coming flower. 

In the second volume of the " American Horticulturist," 
1847, a notice is given of a visit that year to the fine con- 
servatory of N. Becar. Esq., of Brooklyn, N. Y., with 
comments on a new Chrysanthemum which had been re- 
ceived there under the name of William Penn. This is 
described as a remarkably fine variety, and proceeding, the 
writer adds: " One of the most perfectly formed flowers 
of the genus we have ever seen ; each blossom very full 
double, symmetrically shaped and almost globular in form. 
The color white ; and it is, on the whole, much superior to 
any of the new European varieties of this old autumnal 
favorite which have reached us." Here, then, is a fine 
beginning ; and on extended search we find that this notable 
flower was raised by Robert Kilvington, an enthusiastic 
gardener of Philadelphia. It was exhibited by him for the 
first time November 16, 1841, before the Pennsylvania 
Horticultural Society, and was awarded a prize as the best 
American seedling, the committee reporting ' ' that this 
prize seedling Chrysanthemum is decidedly the finest variety 
ever presented to this society." Thus we are carried back 
to 1841 to learn that the art of raising seedling Chrysanthe- 
mums was probably well understood by American gardeners 
in the latter part of the decade preceding that time. 

Early indices are a source of much perplexity to the 
enquirer. Very often there is no index record of important 
matter, and much interesting information is sometimes 
found under a title altogether foreign to our subject. The 
index to the first two volumes of the " American Horticul- 
turist" affords no data ; but the third volume, 1849, would 
indicate an inclination on the part of the editor to do some- 
thing for our favorite, as he copies from a London horti- 
cultural magazine a long article by George Glenny on "The 
Chrysanthemum and Its Culture," with a list of varieties 
selected from Glenny's standpoint in floricultural matters. 
Another volume records that Robert Fortune had discovered 
the first of the pompon varieties and" forwarded them to 
Europe. In his preface to the fifth edition of " Buist's 
Flower Garden Directory," which appeared in 1851, the 
first edition having been published in 1832, Robert Buist 
mentions the Chrysanthemum, which is something. On 
turning to page 36 of this book we find that he gives as 
suitable for garden culture quite a list of varieties, but not 
a word about them as pot plants, or for the greenhouse. 
Another authority of 1851 is Breck's " Book of Flowers." 
But here, also, the thought evidently runs on garden 
culture only, concluding: "The varieties are endless, 
early and late, tasselled and quilled, flat petalled, etc., 
with every shade of color, light purple, yellow, white, lilac, 
blush brown, red brown, etc. " 

The " American Horticulturist," in its volume for 1852, 
has five index references to Chrysanthemums, and in the 
text there is mention of fifteen varieties — nine of the large- 
flowered and six of the pompon sections. The " Philadel- 
phia Florist " appeared in this year, and to the first volume, 
page 265, Horticola contributes a dissertation on " The 




J. H. TROY. 



NATUBAL SIZE. 



SPECIMEN PLANTS. 



Chrysanthemum," covering almost two pages. The same 
volume of this journal also contains an excellent article on 
"The Chrysanthemum, its Habits and Cultivation," by 
B, F, Norton, of New York, with a list of nineteen dwarf 
varieties, and reference to thirteen other sorts. The editor 
draws the attention of his correspondent to the fact that he 
did not state which of these are large varieties. This 
important article, from an American point of view, is 
entirely ignored in the index. Here, also, may be found 
an advertisement of Thomas Hogg & Son, of New York, 
in which forty-eight pompon varieties, to name, are offered 
for sale. The special advertising of the Chrysanthemum 
at this early date is very rare ; and, by having the advertise- 
ments bound with the more important liierary matter, we 
run across one other instance of it, but only one. This 
was by Grant Thorburn & Co. , in which occurs our old 
friend Bob, a Chrysanthemum that created as much fuss in 
its day as any of the big flowers do now. Usually, if 
alluded to at all, the advertisements would simply read, 
' and Chrysanthemums," as did the catalogues, very often; 
our first, that of James Wilson, of Albany, N. Y., dating 
away back to 1842. If Prince & Co. could catalogue, as 
they did in the forties, no less than sixteen hundred Roses, 
we may be certain that they also catalogued Chrysanthe- 
mums, even though we cannot at this time lay hands on 
the list. 

There is a long list of the prize sorts then grown in 
England in the "American Horticulturist" of 1S55, and 
the same volume contains an article eleven columns in 
length, to the effect that the Chrysanthemum was becoming 
extremely popular at that time, new interest having been 
created in it by the increase of varieties and by improve- 
ments in knowledge as to the methods of cultivation and 
training, mentioning, for example, the use of ten-inch 
pots, with the plants so grown as to hide these jjots with 
foliage, and presenting more the appearance of a well- 
grown Azalea than a Chrysanthemum under ordinary 
management. The plants, it appears, were perfected by 
judicious training in August, after they had received their 
final shift. They are described as being a literal mass of 
flowers, where none of their buds had been thinned out, 
as was sometimes done in a case of plants for exhibition, 
when only one bloom was allowed to grow on each plant. 
This shows that the idea of growing plants to a single 
stem is by no means of recent origin in this country, but 



that it was practiced by our Chrysanthemum growers at a 
comparatively early period. Thus does history repeat 
itself, and manufacture new surprises ; for it is certainly 
astonishing, after all the promise of permanent popularity 
given to the Chrysanthemum in the foregoing notes, to find 
that the index of the " American Horticulturist" as late as 
1S60 contains not a single reference to the plant. With 
other publications of this year, we take up "Shepherd's 
Handbook," something after the fashion of Prof. Bailey's 
modern "Annals of Horticulture," which gives a list of 
the new plants ; and among those introduced during the 
season, including many sorts of the more popular florists' 
flowers then in cultivation, we find an annual Chrysanthe- 
mum, but not a sign of the perennial varieties. The 
" American Horticultural Annual" of 1871, in the almanac 
style — a form of garden literature which was first issued in 
this country about 1S54 — is the earliest of these yearly pro- 
ductions to publish a list of Chrysanthemums, and that, 
consisting of nine Japanese varieties, supplied by the late 
Peter Henderson. 

Starting then, say in 1820, the first decade has very 
slight notices of our flower in any form, but sufficient to 
show that it was here, and growing in interest, In the 
next decade, ending 1840, seedlings of merit were grown 
and prizes awarded in a small way. The plant is still 
prospering in 1850, but so far mostly as a border or garden 
flower, where the autumn weather is sufliciently open to 
permit of its cultivation. Toward the close of the suc- 
ceeding decade, or i36o, when private gardens of consid- 
erable pretensions had become fairly numerous throughout 
the country, it was considered useful as a greenhouse p'ant, 
and this even as far west as Cincinnati and Chicago, and 
exhibits were sometimes awarded prizes by the societies 
then established. The first regular Chrysanthemum exhi- 
bition in America was held under the auspices of the 
Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 186S, wi^h premiums 
to the amount of fifty-five dollars. In 1870, as everybody 
knows, no respectable greenhouse was without at least a 
few representative varieties, and, although yet far from its 
present popularity, it was steadily tending in that direction, 
until a new and wider interest was awakened by the intro- 
duction of Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, where, for the time being, 
we must leave the glorious company of mummers and their 
favorite flower 

Chicago, III. —Edgar Sanders. 



SPECIMEN PLANTS. 



WHEN a boy, now more than thirty years ago, I 
remember a few pompon varieties of the Chrys- 
anthemum growing in the angles of our porch. 
They were called Michaelmas Daisies, then a common 
name for them in the North of England. Above all the 
immense and gorgeously colored greenhouse varieties, the 
charm of these fe^f naturally grown plants remains to this 
day. They braved the snow and rain and in the crisp 
autumn weather, when all other plants were out of 



bloom, they were very beautiful. Their odor, too, was 
decidedly strong, and had a distinct fascination for me. In 
this respect the Chinese varieties are, I imagine, more 
aromatic than the Japanese. 

In the earlier days of Chrysanthemum culture, very little 
effort was made by special means to increase the size of the 
blooms. The Chinese varieties, particularly those known 
as incurved, were in the majority, and in England these 
kinds still occupy a prominent position in all collections. 



8 



SPECIMEN PLANTS. 



They are very seldom grown in this country, and various 
reasons are given for this neglect. It has been ascribed to 
a lack of taste, and that here, among a people not far 
enough advanced in the iloral arts to appreciate the finer 
lines of the Chinese varieties, nothing but large flowers find 
favor. I do not, however, think this is the reason entirely. 
The fact is, our climate is not so well suited to them as to 
the more robust Japanese, and the best varieties generally 
lose their distinctive, incurved character with us. A fre- 
quent complaint is that they do not fill out the center of the 
flowers. This, however, may be explained in that all 
Chrysanthemums under our sunny autumn skies have a 
tendency to produce seeds, and hence the flowers expand 
to permit insects and the wind to distribute the pollen 
among the fertile florets, which are located deep in the 
center of each bloom. 

My practical acquaintance with Chrysanthemums: began 
in 1876, when such varieties as Beverley, George Glenny, 
James Salter, Hero of Stoke-Newington, Mrs. George 
Rundle, Lord Derby, the Christines, yellow, white and 
pink, were at the zenith of their fame. I had charge of a 
collection of plants grown in ten-inch pots, each having 
about fifty blooms, and I thought these specimens were as 
perfect as they could be. Later in the couise of my garden- 
ing career, I was chiefly engaged in branches of the profes- 
sion which did not include work among Chrysanthemums, 
but I always cherished a desire, when circumstances turned 
favorable, to take them in hand again, and during the past 
decade I have had abundant opportunity to gratify my wisii. 
With the increase in number of varieties, mostly of the 
Japanese section, has come a sweeping change. Growers of 
specimen plants are in a great minority, probably not more 
than a dozen persons in the United States being specialists 
in this Ime, The number of first class varieties adapted 
for growing into specimen plants is very small, and this is 
accounted for by the fact that the producers of new varie- 
ties select only such seedlings as bear flowers of large size, 
and are therefore likely to gain honors as specimen blooms 
at the exhibitions. The various horticultural societies 
should insist upon it and see that their judges have a proper 
supply of material to enable them to reach a just and 
decisive conclusion as to the merits of new varieties in all 
their aspects, embracing plants as well as cut blooms. 

Varieties suitable for specimen plants should be of medium 
height, and the stems well clad with healthy foliage. The 
flowers should be erect, fuli, double, of medium size, and 
distinct in color. I make a trial of twenty five or more 
new varieties every year, and if out of this number two of 
sufficient merit to be tried again are secured, I am doing 
well. It will be said, perhaps, that I am fastidious, but 
this is the only way to arrive at success in the cultivation of 
specimen plants. There is before me a list of varieties, 
recommended by a well-known florist, which I will briefly 
analyze ir. o der to show what I mean. From sixteen whiles 
I select two first class. Ivory and Joseph H. White ; Min- 
nie Wanamaker is good, and Annie Manda, fair. Louis 
Boehmer and Etoile de Lyon are the best of fifteen pink 
varieties, W. IL Lincoln the only good one of fourteen 



yellows, and G. W. Childs the most reliable of ten reds and 
other colors, the latter, how..ver, by no means an ideal 
variety. It is next to impossible to select good varieties 
for plants from specimen blooms, but this is what many do. 
Ask any leading dealer to make a selection for you, and if 
he is honest, as one I know, he will say he is not acquainted 
with them as such. 

Here is a small list of varieties which I know will make 
good plants. White : Ivory, Joseph H. White, Snowflake, 
Summit, G. Daniels and L. Canning ; White Cap and 
White Gem for late flowering. Yellow: Clinton Chalfant, 
President Hyde, Golden Ball, W. H. Lincoln, A. H. 
Fewkes and the Anemone George Hawkins. Bronze ; 
Golden Hair (orange) Walter Hunnewell and L'lncom- 
parable. Pink : lora, Portia (exquisite), Louis Boehmer. 
and for late flowering, Eda Prass. Crimson : Louis 
Menand and G. W. Childs. 

The stock in hand can be cut down after the flowering 
season, kept in a cool, light place, and given as little water 
as possible, not more than enough to keep them growing 
slowly. Strong growths made during December should be 
cut back, as it is not desirable to propagate from these at 
any time. Cuttings of a sucker character are best. Opin- 
ions vary as to the proper time to insert cuttings intended 
for specimen plants. For many years I put them in about 
the middle of January, and while this gave them a longer 
season of growth, it often happened that cuttings taken so 
early ran to bloom when transferred to six-inch pots in 
March. With no preparation for replacing the plants, 
these varieties were lost for that season. Many of the best 
varieties bloom in this way. Ivory being a noted instance. 
My experience has been that cuttings struck about the 
middle of February make the best plants. Preference 
should always be given to root cuttings, over those pro- 
duced by the stems, parlicularly if the former are of sucker 
origin. This is not always possible, and I well remember 
an old and very beautiful variety of a charming pink shade, 
Damio, now almost lost to cultivation, as particularly shy 
in producing cuitings of any kind. Very fair plants may 
also be obtained from leaf cuttings, taken with an eye. 
The new yellow sport, Mrs. E. B. Freeman, was obtained 
in this way. In 1S93 my best flowers of Niveus, and in 
1S94 of Mrs. E. G. Hill, were from such leaf cuttings, and 
some of the latter, grown to crown buds, were exhibited in 
Boston, October 6th, and were awarded a first class cer ifi- 
cate by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Cuttings 
taken from plants which have been grown cool are prefer- 
able. Man.y noted growers are now following this plan, 
growing their stock plants out of doors until autumn, when 
they are stored in cold frames until required. The reason 
so many varieties thrive so indifferently the first season is 
that they have been forced and propagated to exhaustion. 

We use a general propagating bed where the bottom heat 
is steady at sixty-five degrees, with a minimum air tempera 
ture of fifty degrees. This insures quick rooting, and gives 
us space for other stock. Cuttings will root in a tem- 
perature as low as fort> degrees, or even less, and in 
England it is customary in many places to insert them 



SPECIMEN PLANTS. 



in pots placed iu cold frames. By this plan it is claimed 
that the plants are strengthened in constitution, but I 
am not aware that it makes much difference, especially 
in a plant that responds to good culture so quickly as 
does the Chrysanthemum. Cuttings should be prepared 
with a sharp knife, and shorn of a few of the lower 
leaves and the tips of the upper ones, which would 
otherwise hang about the base of the cuttings and 
encourage damping-off. They should be pressed firm in 
the soil, and placed so far apart that they will not touch ; 
for when damping-off once sets in, it is almost impossible 
to prevent its spread throughout the whole bed. They will 
need a liberal supply of water for the first few days, and 
shading when the sun shines, for they must on no account 
be allowed to wilt. The cuttings should be rooted in three 
weeks, and may then be potted in small pots, using a rather 
light soil, not made very firm. Toward the end of March 
they will be well established, and may be transferred to six- 
inch pots, at the same time removing the tip of each plant. 
This will be the first stopping. A moderately rich compost 
should be used at this stage, pressed firmly if the soil is 
light, loosely if heavy. It is very important that the 
drainage be free at all times. The plants should be placed 
iu cold frames, plunging them in sand or coal ashes, as 
soon as the weather permits, to encourage a good stocky 
growth. A consideration of no less importance than fine 
flowers is lu.xuriant foliage, furnishing the plants well down 
to the pots. Plants that have been forced in a close atmos- 
phere, or unduly excited by stimulants during the earlier 
stages of their growth, never finish well. 

About the middle of May, our plants are ready for the 
final shift into ten-inch or twelve-inch pots, in which they 
remain and bloom. Our soil is a light and moderately rich 
loam. Lime, in some form, should be an ingredient, and 
bone meal, lime rubbish, or wood ashes will answer this 
requirement very well. We also pot lightly and evenly at 
this stage. And now, as immediately after each potting. 
there is always danger of overwatering, a risk to be care- 
fully avoided, since a serious loss of foliage is sure to 
follow. Later, when stimulants are applied, the plants will 
become water-logged unless the drainage is good, and this 
is an equally unfavorable circumstance. It is well to keep 
the plants in frames a few days, or until new roots are 
formed, when they may be plunged outdoors to the rim of 
the pots. As they will remain in the open until autumn, it 
is advisable to place them three or four feet apart, so as to 
give room for easy passage among them to attend to 
watering, stopping, staking and tying. Some means must 
be adopted to prevent earthworms working up from below, 
or they will work the soil into the drainage material and 
finally stop the vent. Slates and pieces of wood are 
objectionable, since they do not admit of a free passage of 
air and water. Something which will carry the base of the 
pots well clear of the soil is needed, and this we do by 
placing under them disks of earthenware, made for the pur- 
pose by a local manufacturer. Whatever success I have had, 
I attribute as much to this little device as to any other cause. 
Stopping is an important operation, and one not generally 



understood. No regular time can be named for this work; 
it should be done almost every day, as soon as a shoot is 
observed outgrowing the others. The idea is to keep the 
plants evenly balanced It should never be necessary to 
stop a plant "hard,"ss the shools thus treated do not 
break so well as when merely the tip is taken out. Ntither 
can any date be named to discontinue the operation. 
Golden Ball, Ivory, Duchess of Connaught, L. Canning 
and W. H. Lincoln make good specimens naturally, and 
need scarcely any attention after July ; while G. W. Childs, 
Mr. H. Cannell, Fascination and Cullingfordii should have 
runaway shoots stopped as late as the end of August. It 
need hardly be stated that a few stakes should be put in 
toward the end of July, so as to outline the plants and 
prevent their being broken by wind storms. It is seldom 
that insect pests give any trouble cut of doors, except the 
chinch bug, which extracts the sap from the plants, causing 
them to wilt. Various insects, more particularly the nomad 
spiders and the lady birds, serve to keep these in check by 
devouring them. We also make a compound from three 
pounds of tobacco leaf and one ounce of sulphide of 
potassium, adding on application a tablespoonful of kerosene 
and twenty gallons of water. This we find is useful as a 
fungicide, as well as an insecticide. I noticed during the 
past summer that all the chinch bugs were driven off the 
plants sprayed with this mixture, and were found on those 
left unsprayed. One other little thing in this connection is 
worthy of mention, and that is, that so long as there was 
any corn in bloom in the vicinity we had no chinch bugs 
on our Chrysanthemums, but they returned to us when the 
corn ceased to flowe r. A good idea would be to keep corn 
planted in that part of the garden in which the plants are 
located. Frequent spraying on all bright days, and par- 
ticularly during dry weather, seems beneficial. This tends 
to keep down insects, and to promote the growth of clean, 
healthy foliage. 

The application of stimulants is a work requiring great 
care, and only experienced persons should be entrui.ed 
with it. The pots must be filled with roots, and the drain- 
age perfectly free, to begin with. No excess of solid 
matter should be allowed to accumulate on the surface of 
the soil, as this also would prevent the ready percolation of 
liquids. If cow manure is used as a top-dressing, it would 
be best to dry it first, afterward breaking it into small 
pieces. This acts as a mulch and fertilizer at the same 
time. As a safe and lasting stimulant, however, we prefer 
sheep manure, which should be applied in the form of a 
top-dressing, adding a little sand and loam to keep it open. 
Liquid manure may also be applied if the plants continue 
healthy. It should be given often, say once a week at first, 
and two or three times a week later, but at no time very 
strong. Drainage from barns is one of the best fertilizers 
known, as it contains nearly all the ingredients of a com- 
plete plant food in a highly concentrated form. I seldom 
use it stronger than one part in twenty of water. It 
bituminous soot can be obtained, it is beneficial, and may 
be used with some device for filtering water through it. 
Manure from the hen-house is often helpful when used in 



SPECIMEN PLANTS. 



small doses, but dangerous in large quantities. Whtre 
lime is not an ingreditnt of the soil, a pound or two in the 
water once in a while will do good work. Sulphate of 
ammonia is sometimes used with wonderful results, but 
unless its strength is known, it is not quite safe. Among 
commercial fertilizers, guano ranks high. It does not, 
however, contain all the elements required, and so gives 
best results when used alternately with other manures. 
Guano is best applied in the liquid form, and while it may 
be safe to use more than one pound to fifty gallons of 
water, I confine myself to that limit. When administering 
artificial fertilizers, occasional plants will not be able to 
withstand the regulation doses, and this will be shown by 
the leaves turning pale green. These should be passed 
until ihey resume their normal color, and always subse- 
quently a weaker mi.xture should be given them. At the 
same time, while clear water is being used, no more than 
about sufficient to keep them from wilting should be given. 
This gives the soil a chance to sweeten, or to return to its 
best condition. 

What we aim at in specimen plants is to develop as many 
growing shoots as possible before the middle of August, 
arranging them so as to keep the plants even and regular 
in form. This adjusting of the shoots, and the incidental 
tying and staking, should be attended to every day, thus 
keeping the work well foiward and affording the plants an 
opportunity to outgrow some of that stiffness which is 
characteristic oi severe training. Very often these details 
are totally neglected until within a few weeks of the flower- 
ing season ; and in all such cases, however carefully or 
artistically the work may be performed, there is always a 
glaring excess of artificiality in the appearance of the 
plants. Generally all the shoots on specimen plants are 
terminals, each bearing a cluster of flower buds at the 
extremity. I prefer to leave only one bud to each shoot, 
and th!s treatment is repaid by the production of an extra 
large flower. But it is difficult to persuade people to leave 
only one bud. I have noticed a tendency in a few varieties, 
more especially in J. Delaux, Arethusa, G. Daniels and 
Amber Gem, to show second crown buds at taking time. 
As this occurs whea September is well advanced, I always 
take them. If they were removed, terminals would appear, 
but the latter so late in the season that it is questionable if 
they would develop flowers of as good quality as the 
crowns. I would advise the retention of all the crown 
buds that appear on specimen plants in September. 

Feeding should continue until the blooms begin to show 
color. One good guide as to the action of the stimulants, 
in addition to noting the visible effects, is to observe whether 
new roots push through to the surface of the soil. Our 
plants last year filled with roots the space reserved for water 
to such an extent that, toward the latter part of the season, 
we were obliged to make a mould of plastic material, plac- 
ing it inside the rim of the pots in order to increase their 
capacity. We used a mixture of cow manure and clay, and 
in less than a week it was literally white with roots, which 
held the material safely in position. The absence of these 
roots, taken in connection with a yellowish shade of the 



leaves, is a safe indication that the plants are out of health; 
and instead of increasing the dose of manure in such cases, 
it should be withheld altogether. If there is room in the 
pots, a light top-dressing of loam and sand would benefit 
such sickly plants, and I would, recommend this treatment 
generally for all that are not doing as well as they should. 
Too much water and poor drainage are usually responsible 
for an unhealthy condition. The plants should be housed 
early in September. They might remain outdoors until 
frost threatened to make its appearance, but nothing would 
be gained by the delay. They are better under cover, and 
from the first of October onward a little fire heat should be 
given. This keeps the atmosphere dry, preventing mildew 
and damping-off. It is also necessary to admit abundance 
of air, but draughts from the windward side of the house 
must be strictly guarded against. 

The month succeeding the middle of October is a time 
full of interest to all growers of specimen plants. It is also 
one of anxiety, for there is yet time enough to undo a whole 
season's work by a single blunder. Less water will be 
required as the blooms mature, but never so little that the 
foliage wilts. The roots may be injured by excessive sup- 
plies of water to such a degree as to be followed by a serious 
loss of leaves, and no treatment could now repair the 
damage. And if the plants are intended for exhibition, it 
may also be possible that the date is too late for some varie- 
ties, and these must be held in check. If it is possible, 
such plants may be removed to a cooler, shady house wiLh 
advantage, otherwise they must be shaded with tissue paper, 
especially the pink-flowered varieties. Some yellows, such 
as Source d'Or, Ernst Asmus and President Hyde, soon let 
their florets droop, and in this condition look wretched. 
Again, others may be too late, which, if anything, is worse 
than being early. Chrysanthemums do not bear forcing 
well, in the ordinary way of increasing the amount of heat. 
Plants housed, and others of the same variety placed in a 
cold frame showed no difference in time of flowering, 
although the night temperature was about ten degrees 
higher in the house. One of the exhibitors at the recent 
Boston show was anxious to enter a plant of W. H. Lincoln, 
and placing it in a Rose house three weeks before the exhi- 
bition, failed to get it into bloom. Another plant of the 
same variety exhibited there in full bloom had never bee-.i 
forced in any way, except perhaps by a few doses of a 
chemical fertilizer, though it is doubtful if this hastened the 
development of the flowers. Both plants were in the same 
condition at the time stated. 

In preparing plants to travel to exhibitionsi we fill the 
spaces between the flowers with tissue paper, and gradually 
draw the stems closer until the plants are rigid. In this 
condition they travel well. In all my experience I have had 
only one plant spoiled in packing, and that was one of the 
old variety. Golden Dragon, the curled florets of which so 
far interlocked that we could not get them apart without 
mutilation. Had we made a separate parcel of each flower, 
as we did with lora last year, not one would have been 
injured. 

Wellcsley, Mass. — T. D, Hatfield. 



THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 



OF all the special institutions devoted to horticulture 
in its various branches, the National Chrysanthe- 
mum Society, by virtue of its wide-spread influ- 
ence, its numerous members, its large annual revenue and 
its almost unlimited program of operations, best lays claim 
to be considered the chief. Its rate of progress during 
the past few years has no parallel in the annals of horti- 
culture, and the executive may justly feel proud at the 
happy results which have been the outcome of their united 
efforts. At the close of 1893 it had completed the first 
decade of its existence as a national society, and there are 
few who would venture to challenge its right to be consid- 
ered such. As a matter of fact the society is nearly half a 
century old, but it was only in January, 1884, that it 
assumed the name and title "National." Like many other 
great undertakings, it had a small and unpretentious be- 
ginning. Nearly all the early members have long since 
passed away, leaving a new, but quite as enthusiastic and 
industrious, set of men to continue the work which had so 
ably been begun. 

Just previous to the date above mentioned, the officers 
of what was then known as the Borough of Hackney 
Chrysanthemum Society, finding that the culture of their 
favorite plant had rapidly increased in England, and that 
a love for the flower prevailed to a greater extent than 
had previously been the case, and believing that there was 
ample room for a more useful and larger sphere of opera- 
tions, decided to abandon their local name and necessarily 
restricted field of labor, and by the adoption of a more 
extensive programme, develop into a society of a thoroughly 
national character. At that time there were many impor- 
tant Chrysanthemum societies all over the kingdom, some of 
which were holding e.xhibitions of a high standard of e.xcel- 
lence, and those persons who advocated the change based 
their arguments upon the fact that the Boro' of Hackney 
society was the oldest of its kind, and that many eminent 
growers in all parts of the country, who would naturally 
stand aloof from joining a local society no matter what 
degree of fame it might acquire, would hasten to join a 
national concern. It was further argued that the time was 
ripe for such a society; disputes were constantly arising 
about the classification and nomenclature, and these could 
only be decided by the various opinions of the different 
judges at the shows where such questions arose, or as some- 
times was the case, by an appeal to one of the organs of the 
horticultural press. Such decisions as these were of course 
not always accepted with unanimity, and the advocates of a 
national organization, fearful that some similar body would 
take the initiative, urged the Boro' of Hackney society to 
lose no time in changing its name and work. This is 
briefly how it is we have our present National Chrysanthe- 
mum Society, and the hopes and anticipations of thoFe who 
brought about the change have been more fully realized than 
ever they could have imagined. In a very few years the 
standard of cultivation has been materially improved, the 



flower is more widely grown and admired than ever, the 
society's exhibitions are the delight of every beholder, thous- 
ands of visitors attending them instead of hundreds ; and 
everything tending to promote these and kindred subjects 
concerning the flower has been placed upon a solid footing 
and centralized. The National Chrysanthemum Society 
practically legislates for all other similar societies, and 
decides authoritatively many questions and disputes which 
are submitted to it from all quarters of the country. 

Opinions differ regarding the exact date of the society's 
formation and first exhibition. The year 1S46 is generally 
given as the date of both ; but if a show was actually held 
in that year, it cannot be regarded as the show of the 
society, but as a mere private effort of some of the founders, 
which probably resulted in the society being established the 
following year, because we find in contemporary horticul- 
tural literature that the reports of the early exhibitions date 
from the year 1847. Thus, in "Gossip for the Garden" for 
1856, we find the show described as the tenth annual one, 
whereas it would have been the eleventh had the society 
begun in 1846. 

If chronological differences abound, it is certainly not so 
with regard to the actual origin and founders' names, for 
one who has been familiar with the old north London 
growers says: " What a host of pleasant reminiscences is 
started by a glance at the names of some of our Chrysan- 
themum fathers! Perhaps the very first who are entitled to 
recognition are the founders of the original Stoke-Newing- 
ton Chrysanthemum Society, Messrs. Holmes, Tant and 
James. How little they ever dreamed that their mutual 
resolve, while returning from the Vauxhall Dahlia Show of 
1845, on the top of a 'bus, to hold a friendly competition at 
the old ' Rochester Castle,' in the following November (the 
loser to pay for a steak supper), would have resulted in such 
an organization as the national society of tc-iiay." Yet 50 
it was, and since those words were written the society has 
doubled both financially and numerically. 

The late JMr. Shirley Hibberd has, in his own inimitable 
way, given an excellent word picture of the early days of 
this society, which may be most appropriately reproduced 
here : " Let us go back to the beginning in order to claim 
for this rural suburb of Stoke-Newington whatever renown 
it should have as the home of the first Chrysanthemum 
society. Picture, if you can, one of our old-fashioned 
wayside hostelries and call it the ' Rochester Castle.' Go 
back five and twenty years,* and picture the low-roofed 
parlors wherein every evening a number of the better class 
of tradesmen and small gentlemen of the village envelop 
themselves and each other in clouds of tobacco smoke, and 
while stirring their toddy discussed the politics of the day 
and the latest scandal of the district and the personal pre- 
dilections of the most prominent members of the ' parlor.' 
There you shall see a big handsome man of generous rosy 

* This was written in 1871. 



THE tSTATIONAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 



face, and the complexion and expression of a true Anglo ; 
or, if not that, at least as fine a typical Englishman as a 
searcher after ethnological types could desire. That is 
Robert James, the landlord of the ' Rochester,' a first-rate 
host, an enthusiastic and able florist ; a man of broad 
sympathies and healthy tastes. The Chrysanthemum has 
become a pet of his, and he has formed a collection of 
some five and twenty sorts. The talk of the parlor turns 
upon horticulture, quite according to custom, and an 
exhibition of Chrysanthemums is determined on, and 
Robert James takes the lead as treasurer and advocate ; 
and, of all the workers in the movement, best of all lays 
claim by his activities to be forever after known as the 
Father of the first Chrysanthemum society." 

.\mong the early members of the Stoke-Newington 
Florists' Society for the Cultivation and Exhibition of the 
Chrysanthemum, as it was rather lengithily called, the 
names of William Holmes, Sr., George Taylor, Edwin 
Merry, Edwin Sanderson, etc., stand out prominently as 
indefatigable workers in promoting its welfare and in con- 
tributing to its shows. At an early stage of its existence 
prizes for cut blooms besides pot plants were instituted, 
although in those days there was no absolute standard set 
up, and it was not until the society had passed well out of 
its infancy that the immortal fathers of the Chrysanthemum 
definitely settled upon the incurved type of flower as 
emblematical of all that was perfect and sublime in 
Chrysanthemum beauty, and set that form up as the 
standard for seedling raisers to work up to. A perfect 
globe, with regularly disposed florets, rounded at the tips, 
without notch or blemish — this was the ine.xorable standard 
until the weird, fantastic Japanese varieties appeared, to 
set all preconceived canons of good taste at defiance. 
The old-school florist never could bring his mind to like 
the more modern form which has done so much to popular- 
ize the famous autumn flower, and never will. Deep 
down in his heart there lurks a strong feeling of positive 
revulsion against the "ragged jacks "which have pushed 
his favorites aside ; and if a florist can hate a flower, the 
Chrysanthemum fancier of thirty or forty years ago has a 
large and abiding measure of that improper feeling for the 
popular " Jap." 

Big money prizes, huge silver cups and challenge vases, 
gold medals, and similar sordid inducements did not form 
the motive power of the ancients. Apart from the shows, 
the Stoke-Newington Society held monthly meetings on 
the mutual improvement principle. Those who had dis- 
covered some important secret in the art of cultivation 
made the good news known to the others. Thus we find 
early in 1851 the genial Robert James posing as a lecturer, 
his subject being the " Pot Culture of the Chrysanthemum," 
which attracted some outside attention, as it was reproduced 
shortly afterward in "The Florist" and also in "The 
Scottish Gardener." Mr. William Holmes, Sr. , was also a 
literary worker. George Taylor, whose son is still an able 
and valued worker in the society, discoursed upon the art 
of growing the autumn queen, and this he was subsequently 
induced to publish in separate form, thereby establishing 



his right to be considered the author of the first independent 
treatise on the Chrysanthemum published in England, 
which is now so scarce that hardly any of the present 
generation can claim to have seen it. Edwin Sanderson, 
for over thirty years the president, who only last year 
joined the great majority, also figures as a zealous literary 
worker, besides being, as were all his colleagues, a first- 
class practical exponent of the art of growing prize blooms. 

It cannot be wondered at that the flower began to be 
talked about and freely grown, nor that it was speedily 
improved in size, form and color, for as time went on prizes 
of considerable value were offered for competition, and 
new raisers were not slow to take up the work of seedling 
production. As a matter of some public interest, the 
Stoke-Newington people appointed a committee, consisting 
of Messrs. Callahan, Croxford, Holmes, James. Merry, 
Taylor and Sanderson, to select the best varieties then in 
cultivation, and it is curious now to note the names of the 
flowers then considered the most worthy. Many of them 
have, of course, long since disappeared from our collections; 
there are still a few which remain and, after forty years or 
more have elapsed, may yet be found in the hands of 
fin lie siecle exhibitors. The flowers selected by the com- 
mittee were as follows : Annie Salter, Beauty, Campestroni, 
Cloth of Gold, Defiance, Duke, Dupont de I'Eure, Gem, 
Golden Clustered Yellow, Goliath, Imperial, King, Lucidum, 
Mdme. Chauviere, Pilot, Princesse Marie, Queen of Eng- 
land, Two Colored Incurved, Vesta, Worden. 

The Stoke-Newington Chrysanthemum Show had now 
become a well recognized annual institution, and its work 
appears to have been regularly chronicled in the columns 
of the gardening press of the period. Owing to the yearly 
displays at the Temple, the cultivation of Chrysanthemums 
had spread very rapidly, and numerous other societies 
began to spring up, not only in the metropolis, but in other 
parts of the country. When the society had reached the 
tenth year of its existence, prize money to the extent of 
$350.00 was disbursed, and the annual dinner was attended 
by ninety-eight exhibitors and friends, and the reporter 
adds with approval, a more successful meeting was never 
before held. 

From that time forward the society increased in members 
and in prosperity, excepting perhaps for a brief period 
when there was a split and the society became two, an 
arrangement which happily did not last long, and finally 
resulted in an amalgamation of the divided forces. The 
annual shows continued to be held in the neighborhood of 
Stoke-Newington, and under the able presidency of Mr. 
Ed. Sanderson the society continued to maintain its high 
position in the Chrysanthemum world, and the northern 
suburb became a kind of floral Mecca to which enthusiastic 
and zealous devotees of the goddess " Mum" used annu- 
ally to make their pilgrimage, to worship at the shrine of 
the golden flower, meeting with old friends, discussing the 
merits of the show, and expatiating eloquently upon the 
beauty of the season's novelties. For a little more than a 
quarter of a century these men, simple in their tastes and 
habits, and unambitious for the future, were unconsciously 




LATEST FAD. 



REDUCED ONE-FODRTH. 



THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 



1.? 



laying the foundations of one of the greatest societies ever 
established in the Uuited Kingdom. The names of them 
all will long remain blessed in the annals of their favorite 
flower, and it has become a point of honor with those who 
now continue to walk in their footsteps to try to prove 
worthy of the very substantial legacy of responsibility that 
has been bequeathed to them. 

In 1874 signs of expansion began to be manifest, and the 
show for that year was moved to the town hall, Hackney, 
and in the following year the society became known by the 
name of ihe Borough of Hackney Chrysanthemum Society, 
Even at that time the schedule and prize list was a very 
unimposing looking document, consisting as it did of a four 
page leaflet, with prizes in twenty-six classes, the greatest 
prize being a sum equil to f (5 for plants in pots. Mr 
William Holmes, Jr., succeeded to the secretaryship in 
1877, and the show was removed to the Royal Aquarium, 
Westminster, where it has continued to be held ever since 
with increasing success. The schedule for 1879 was double 
the size of its predecessors, and the officials for that year 
were : President, E. Sanderson ; vice-president, R, Bal- 
lantine; treasurer, J. Harling; and hon. secretary, W. 
Holmes; all of whom occupied the same position five years 
later, when the conversion into the National Chrysanthe- 
mum Society took place. The total of the year's income 
was under $700, the membership 68 persons in all, and the 
society, although very much improved, was yet to feel the 
benefit of the changes then made. 

The new secretary, by an enlightened and judicious 
policy, in which he was ably seconded by his brother offi- 
cers, threw into the work all the energy and zeal that a man 
could possibly bestow, and after he had been a few years 
in office the Aquarium show became one of the sights of 
London, the income doubled, a very large accession of 
members had been made, and in spite of some little opposi- 
tion the officials determined to throw aside the local char- 
acter of the society, and by opening up a wider field of 
operations, turn it into a national society which should com- 
mand the respect and support of growers all over tfie king- 
dom. In 1884 the change was made, and from that time 
till now those who v/ere the strongest advocates of a 
national Chrysanthemum society have never had to regret 
the course they took. The roll of members went up by 
leaps and bounds. Almost every grower of repute joined 
sooner or later, and even in foreign countries many eminent 
lovers of the Chrysanthemum have expressed their sympa- 
thy with the work of the society by becoming members. 
At an early stage of its national existence, the society 
appointed a floral committee to receive and adjudicate upon 
new varieties, granting certificates of merit to deserving 
seedlings. A medal struck in bronze, in silver, in silver 
gilt, and in gold, is also awarded to exhibitors. An official 
catalogue of varieties, which has passed through four edi- 
tions, exclusive of supplements, has been published and 
accepted as authoritative in almost every place where 
Chrysanthemums are grown. Additional exhibitions of 
early flowering and of late flowering varieties have been 
held yearly since 18S6. Two exhibitions in the provinces. 



and half a dozen conferences on various matters closely 
connected with Chrysanthemums, have been held, besides a 
very important gathering called the " Centenary Festival," 
organized to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the 
introduction of the flower into England; and what is more 
surprising than all, is the large measure of success that has 
been meted out to the affiliation scheme. Upwards of one 
hundred horticultural or Chrysanthemum societies are 
affiliated to the National Chrysanthemum Society, many of 
them in remote quarters of the country, and a number being 
situated in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. 

Much of the detail work is relegated to subcommittees, 
but the officers and general committee are the governing 
body. A point that will probably strike an American 
reader as somewhat curious is that out of all the officers, 
uot one, save the secretary, is in any way connected with 
the nursery trade or any branch of it. They are purely 
and simply Chrysanthemum amateurs, and it is in a great 
measure to that class of cultivators that the National 
Chrysanthemum Society owes much of its greatness to-day. 
The general committee, which consists of thirty-six elected 
members, is also remarkable in its composition, there being 
only eight out of that number who are in any way directly 
connected with the trade, the others being either gardeners 
or bona fide amateurs. These facts are mentioned to show 
American readers the power of the amateur element in 
advancing floriculture in this country, and it is noteworthy 
that in other societies, which can claim the greatest success, 
a similar experience must also be recorded. 

In 18S9 the society was reconstructed, and the rules 
amended and codified. Lord Brooke was appointed presi- 
dent, but has since been succeeded by an enthuMastic 
admirer of the Chrysanthemum in the person of Sir Edwin 
Saunders, F. R. C. S., etc. The other members of the 
executive are: Treasurer, I. R. Starling, Esq.; chairman 
of co.nmittees, R. Ballantine, Esq.; vice-chairman of 
committees, E. C. Jukes, Esq. ; Chairman of floral com- 
mittee, W. H. Fowler, Esq.; secretary, Mr. Richard Dean; 
foreign secretary, Mr. C. Herman Payne ; all of whom 
have been connected with the society since its foundation 
on a national basis 

As the society stands to-day it has among its patrons 
some of the highest nobility of the land. It has revenue 
equivalent to $5,000 per annum, nearly half of which is 
distributed in prize money at its exhibitions. Its roll of 
membership amounts to about 600 persons, including all 
the most eminent specialists and authorities on the Chrys- 
anthemum in England, America, Belgium, France, etc. 
As an indication of its far-spreading influence, it need only 
be said in conclusion that the society has in addition to 
these, correspondents in every country where Chrysanthe- 
mums are grown, even in China and Japan, and that at the 
Antipodes, where much interest is no v being taken in this 
flower, growers nave been found to send over seme of their 
productions to London frozen in blocks of ice in order to 
obtain an opinion of their respective merits from the general 
committee of the society. 

If there is one thing that characterizes the proceedings of 



OUTDOOR CULTURE. 



WITH many gardeners, both amateur and pro- 
fessional, it is a problem of no small magni- 
tude to find sufficient space under glass for 
all the plants they feel compelled to cultivate. The 
Chrysanthemum — formerly considered a fairly hardy plant 
— has of late years been added to the number which are 
thought to require greenhouse accommodation all the year 
round. While this may be partially true in the case of 
exhibition specimens, where the plants demand the greatest 
care and protection from destructive storms and insects, or 
in the cultivation of some few varieties which are known 
to be of weak constitution and unable to withstand any 
considerable fluctuations of temperature, it is by no means 
essential to the production of good plants for the ordinary 
purposes of decoration. Late in the season, when the 
weather outdoors grows cold, the plants of course must 
have protection ; but where there are graperies or other 
fruit houses connected with the garden, as are the circum- 
stances here and in many other places, this can be easily 
and efficiently provided. Most of our greenhouses are 
filled with the choicest kinds of exotics throughout the 
year, and consequently our Chrysanthemums are grown 
outdoors and removed to the graperies on the approach of 
cold weather, when the vines have ripened their growth 
and generally completed their activity for the season. As 
this has been the practice here for several years, giving 
complete satisfaction, it may be well to furnish a closer 
view of the details of culture and management. 

The cuttings — selecting clean and healthy, short-jointed 
material — are taken about the latter end of February, 
planted singly in two-inch pots, using a somewhat sandy 
compost, and placed in a cool propagating box, the tem- 
perature of which averages about fifty degrees. Here they 
remain, with the required attention to watering and shading, 
until rooted, when they are removed to a bench near the 
glass. Having filled the pots tolerably full of roots, the 
plants are potted on into others two inches larger, this 
time employing a compost of loam and well-rotted cow 
manure, three parts of the loam to one of manure, adding 
also a little leaf mold and sand. When fairly established 
in the new soil, they are pinched for tiie first time. Care- 
ful watering, syringing morning and evening of bright 
days, and plenty of ventilation in open weather fully covers 
their requirements until they are again ready for larger pots. 
Six inch pots are now used, and the soil should be heavier 
than that employed for the previous potting. Providing 
the loam is of a turfy, fibrous character, the leaf mold 
and sand should be totally discarded from the compost, 
otherwise the sand may be retained. The plants should 
now be allowed plenty of room, and pinching must be 
given careful attention. I find it a very essential point to 
have all the necessary pinching completed not later than 
the first of June, and in this operation care should be taken 
not to pinch too severely, merely removing the extreme 
point of each shoot to be stopped, and always allow the 



plants to regjin their full vigor before pinching a second 
time, as otherwise the growth is inclined to be weakly. 
The green and black aphides are the only insects likely to 
attack them at this period, and these are easily got rid of 
by fumigation with tobacco on two or three successive 
evenings. Should caterpillars of any kind appear, they 
must be picked off by hand and destroyed without delay. 
About the first of June — a week or so later, if they have 
been pinched so late as the first of the month — the plants 
will be ready for their final shift into ten-inch or fourteen- 
inch pots, the latter size preferred for such free-growinsr 
kinds as Lilian B. Bird, Snowstorm, Kioto, Good Gracious, 
etc., using tnis time a strong, rich compost, three parts 
loam to one of cow manure and a sprinkling of pure 
ground bone and pulverized sheep manure. A little soot 
is also a valuable addition, for while imparting to the 
foliage a rich green color, it at the same lime helps to keep 
worms out of the pots. After potting, the plants may be 
placed out of doors in a good sheltered position, plunging 
the pots to the rim in the earth, and arranging them about 
three feet apart in rows. A piece of board, tile or slate 
should be placed underneath the pots to prevent the roots 
from becoming established in the surrounding soil. 

Watering must now be given careful attention. And it is 
not sufficient to merely water the soil in the pots, but if 
possible, the hose should be used to sprinkle the surrounding 
ground every evening, and at the same time to spray the 
plants overhead. This moistening process, especially in 
dry weather, is very essential to success. Pinching should 
be discontinued when the plants are removed to outside 
quarters, and as a further guard against the roots penetrat- 
ing the soil in which the plants are plunged, it would be 
well to turn the pots around in their place about once a 
week. Staking and tying should receive regular attention, 
and a sharp watch must now be kept on insects. The 
squash bug is the first to make the attack, and then we 
have grasshoppers and caterpillars, followed later in the 
season by a brown fly about the size and shape of the 
squash bug. This brown fly is very injurious, and appears 
to devour the heart of the shoots, stopping their growth 
altogether. The best method of getting rid of the fore- 
going pests is by picking them off. 

Mulching with pure cow manure, about the second week 
of July, is exceedingly beneficial. It serves three purposes ; 
first, as a feeder ; secondly, it prevents evaporation, so that 
the roots require less water ; and it is of additional utility 
in preserving the roots in a cool state. When the mulching 
has become exhausted, liquid manure may be applied 
freelv. That prepared from sheep manure is preferable ; 
but if such can no: be had readily, cow manure will serve 
the same purpose. In order to secure blooms of good 
quality, it is necessary to disbud, and if possible the early 
buds, those that appear in July and August, should be 
preserved. Should any of these be deformed, however, 

the next earliest may be selected, choosing the largest and 

i6 





EDWIN LONSDALE. 



ARTHUR H. FEWKES. 





W. A. MANDA. 



T. D. HATFIELD 



SOME AMERICAN PIONEERS. 



See "Men of Note. 



I 



THE AMERICAN SOCIETY. 



17 



best of the several which appear on each shoot, and remov- 
ing all the other weaker ones. The plants may be placed 
under cover about the middle of September, if space can 
be spared in a cool greenhouse at that time, and in any 
case this work should not be deferred beyond the latter end 
of the month. 

One other thing has been strikingly noticeable in our 
plants during the past three years. They are grown in a 
frame-yard which is enclosed on one side by a picket fence 
running east and west, and I find that the two rows of plants 
plunged on the north side of this fence are much superior 
to the others grown on the south side. Those two lines 
have partial shade for about three hours mid-day, and 
while I am not prepared to advocate any great amount of 
shade for Chrysanthemums, I believe there is such a thing 
as too much sun for plants grown in pots. The wood of 
plants fully e.xposed becomes hard and over-ripened, the 



growth stunted, and hence incapable of producing fine 
flowers. It is probable, of course, that planted-out stock 
cannot have an over-supply of sunshine, but on this 
question I am not in a position to offer an opinion, as I 
have had little or no experience in that direction. And for 
similar reasons I am indisposed to urge the superiority of 
our method of culture as against the practices of other 
growers. But considering our circumstances, we have 
been very successful, and these hints may be useful to 
others similarly placed. We grow about two hundred 
specimens every year, and more than half of them have 
been better than the average. Most of the vigorous 
varieties can be successfully grown in this way, but some 
of the weaker ones, such as Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, Dr. 
Mandeville, Peter Kay and others, require greater care. 

—James Scott, 

Syracuse N. Y. 



THE AMERICAN SOCIETY. 



THE Chrysantnemum Society of America was organ- 
ized in Buffalo, N. Y. , at the regular annual con- 
vention of the Society of American Florists, August 
22, iSSg. It was started by a small band of enthusiasts, 
of whom John Thorpe was the recognized leader. When 
called upon to make a report on the matter, Mr. Thorpe 
responded : " In view of the Chrysanthemum being of so 
much importance, I am sorry to say that, as yet, we have 
not done anything toward the establishment of a national 
Chrysanthemum society. I want to ask all the members 
of this association who are interested in the Chrysanthemum 
(and I know that all of them are interested in it), to meet 
here to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock, so that we can 
formulate a plan upon which to begin action immediately 
after the session of to-morrow morning." These remarks 
were delivered by Mr.' Thorpe before the Society of Amer- 
ican Florists, August 20th, and accordingly the Chrysan- 
themum Society was established August 22d. The follow- 
ing constituted the first board of officers ; John Thorpe, 
Pearl River, N. Y. , president ; Wm. K. Harris, Philadel- 
phia, Pa , vice-president ; John Lane, Chicago, 111., treas- 
urer ; Edwin Lonsdale, Philadelphia, Pa., secretary. 
These men continued in office up to and during iSg2, when 
the following appointments were made : Wm. K. Harris, 
president ; E. G. Hill, Richmond, Ind. , vice-president; 
Myron A. Hunt, Terre Haute, Ind., treasurer ; Edwin 
Lonsdale, secretary. In 1893, the officers elected were ; 
Elijah A. Wood, West Newton, Mass., president ; E. G. 
Hill, vice-president ; M. A. Hunt, treasurer ; Elmer D. 
Smith, Adrian, Mich., secretary. 

The same board, with the exception of the treasurer, was 
again appointed at Atlantic City, N. J,, in i8q4. Mr. 
Hunt having died April 23d, of that year, John N. May, 
of Summit, N. J., was elected in his place. At the meet- 
ing held in Toronto, Can., August, l8gi, it was decided to 



prepare a classified list of varieties, based on the American 
ideas of form, utility, etc., and Elijah A. Wood was en- 
trusted with the work. In this Mr. Wood called to his 
assistance his friend and neighbor Mr. Arthur H. Fewkes, 
and the result of their unitea efforts was the excellent 
report presented at the meeting held in Washington, D.C., 
August, 1892. This report has been printed, making a 
pamphlet of some thirty seven pages, and constitutes the 
first publication of the .American society. A committee 
appointed in 1892 to prepare constitution and by-laws, pre- 
sented same at the meeting held in St. Louis, Mo., August 
9, 1S93, when they were adopted. The most important 
work done by the society up to the present time has been 
the registration of new names, thereby preventing duplica- 
tion and the increase of synonyms. The vast number of 
novel varieties now put upon the market annually by the 
dealers renders registration an imperative necessity, and 
the incidental labor which falls upon the secretary would be 
materially lessened if all disseminators of new sorts would 
kindly send to him the names (carefully and correctly writ- 
ten) and descriptions of their novelties at the earliest pos- 
sible date. 

A promising departure in the procedure of the society 
was made last year in the appointment of local committees 
to examine and report on all new varieties submitted to 
them. There were five of these committees, one each in 
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Chicago. 
This movement will undoubtedly need extension, and per- 
haps it should be amended so as to empower the commit- 
tees to award suitable certificates to those exhibiting new 
varieties of satisfactory merit. It would also be well for 
the society to award one medal for the best novelty of each 
season, the prize to be given through some prominent soci- 
ety responsible for a regular Chrysanthemum exhibition, 
and not to be competed for in the same state two years in 



SOME NEGLECTED GROUPS. 



succession. All who are interested in Chrysanthemums 
should join this society, and help the good work along. 
The fees are nominal, and the unity of action consequent 
upon a better concentration of forces may be made mutu- 
ally serviceable. In the few years of its existence, consid- 
ering the amount of ground to be covered, the Chrysanthe- 
mum Society of America has performed a work which for 
utility and thoroughness will compare favorabl)- with that 
of the early years of any similar body. Where the workers 
are so much scattered and isolated, it is a matter of extreme 
difficulty to get them into line. The society is as yet far 
from being as perfect as it ought to be, and none are better 
aware of this fact than the men now at the helm. Mistakes 
have been and are still unavoidable ; and while there are 
none of a serious character with which the society can be 
justly charged, those having the shadow of a foundation 



might have been avoided by the prompt action of the com- 
plaining parties. But this tardiness of the growers, ama- 
teur, professional and commercial, to co-operate with the 
society in its work of regulating Chrysanthemum matters is 
the one feature which the oflicers have been and will ever 
remain unable to overcome. The hearty and spontaneous 
assistance of all the growers is fundamentally essential to 
healthy progress in any movement of this nature. The 
growers can assist very materially in the development 
of the society in many ways, and in none more forcibly 
than by a speedy recognition of its regulations. It is 
perhaps true that in local instances the arrangements 
have not been always satisfactory, but in this regard 
it should be remembered that all the growers demand 
attention, and that it would be quite unfair to disregard 
several for the accommodation of one individual. — M. B. 



SOME NEGLECTED GROUPS. 



TliE fashion which in recent yeais has prevailed for 
large flowered Chrysanthemums, has ousted from 
public favor many not less beautiful kinds that used 
to be popular, and indeed were the only kinds known to 
those who cultivated Chrysanthemums in their outdoor gar- 
dens. As I write, there is in an adjacent garden a beautiful 
bush of a pompon variety, bright yellow in color, which 
has flowered in the same and other gardens for many years 
every autumn, brightening up what would otherwise be a 
dreary place at this season. The roots of these plants are 
left to take care of themselves in the open border all winter, 
and this is possible on account of their hardiness as com- 
prred with the more tender, large-flowering Japanese Chrys- 
anthemums. It is doubtful if one could now get a set of 
the old-fashioned Artemisias, as these plants were known 
years ago ; but there are many sorts in cultivation in Bri- 
tain, which are there well thought of and cared for, 
and if the demand were increased, there would be no 
lack of dealers who would be ready to meet it with a supply. 
The name pompon in this connection applies to the sorts 
that have small, round, button-like blooms in clusters. 
There are many colors, such as white, yellow, pink and 
bronzy-red, and sometimes the flowers are quilled in the 
center like the Chinese Aster, but more often they are 
merely miniatures of the larger reflexed varieties. 

There is another class known as Anemone- flowered 
Chrjsanthemums, and among these are some that are 
large, of beautiful colors, and graceful in shape, especially 
those called Japanese Anemones, or the kinds that have the 
outer row of florets reflexed and parallel with the stem, 
while the center is built high with quilled florets. This 
class was very popular a few years ago and many additions 
were then made to it, but lately nothing has been heard of 
them owing to the craze for large or mammoth blooms, and 
the Anemones do not grow to the size or depth of the 
incurved and Japanese varieties. They have, however, a 



beauty all their own, and it is not to be despised. One we 
have now (November) in bloom, called American Eagle, 
is a large white and purple flower, very beautiful and nearly 
six inches across. Another nearly as large, but of pink 
color, is Judge Hoitt, while Thorpe Junior is a good yellow 
one. All of these are Anemones, and easily obtained from 
any of the dealers in Chrysanthemums. It is possible to 
grow the Anemone-flowered varieties to a larger than ordi- 
nary size by disbudding and treatment similar to that 
required to grow large flowers of the other sorts, but the 
same treatment will not make a pompon variety develop 
large blooms. These are essentially clustered kinds, and 
must be grown without disbudding to get the best results, 
hence their adaptability to outdoor culture. 

Another class is known as reflexed Chrysanthemums, and 
includes those whose florets are flat and the reverse of in- 
curved, as in the group known as Chinese — and in passing 
it may be well to remark that the kinds known as Japanese 
have no especial right to the title, inasmuch as these and 
the so called Chinese have one common origin in the species 
C. Sinense, of which all cultivated Chrysanthemums are 
mere garden forms. But to return to the reflexed kinds, a 
good and well known example of which is found in the 
variety Cullingfordii, which is more commonly grown to-day 
than any other, a circumstance largely due to its unique 
color, and in this regard it would be interesting to know 
how so distinct a break was obtained, whether direct from 
Japan, by sport, or from seed." The many attempts to get 
the same color in other and larger flowers have hitherto 
yielded but little returns, save perhaps in the kind raised 
by Thorpe and known as G. W. Childs. This has much of 
the Cullingfordii blood in it, but is liable to burn from too 

*The variety Cullingfordii was raised in London, England, 
by Mr. W. H. Cullingford in 1882. from seed procured from a 
French dealer. Nothing: is known of its parentage, but the 
plant was xrown on at Mr. CuUingford's country residence, 
Seaford, Sussex, and was first flowered out of doors with the 
simple protection of a glass cover.— Ed. 



SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS. 



19 



mLch exposure to the sun when the flowers are fully cpen. 
Viviand Morel is also classed as a reflexed variety by the 
Chrysanthemum Society of America, and followed in this 
by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, it is diflicultto 
understand the arrangement, for a more thoroughly typical 
Japanese variety than this charming llower cannot well be 
imagined. Another old variety belonging to this class 
is Progne, a rich amaranth-colored and highly fragrant 
Chrysanthemum that used to be often seen in gardens, as 
also were Christine, white, and Golden Christine, yellow. 
These are most suitable for pot culture, and need protec- 
tion in autumn just as do the better known kinds ; but to 
those who love flowers for their own sake, and not for the 
enormities so often seen, these lesser known varieties are a 
source of pleasure, and give good results with far less care 
than is necessary to develop the large flowers even on the 
kinds that are known to produce them. 

The single-flowered Chrysanthemums are really reversions 
to the original type, and all batches of seedlings give a 
large proportion of plants that produce single flowers. This 
is easily understood, for the tendency of all artificially im- 
proved garden plants is to revert to their natural form, and 



it is only by the exercise of the utmost care and vigilance 
in crossing that the artificial standard can be maintained. 
But many of these reversions have in times past taken the 
fancy of the raisers, and have been saved from the rubbish 
heap on this account. They have no commercial value in 
these days, though there is a kind called Daisy that has 
been often exhibited, and on account of its simple beauty 
elicited admiration from all who saw it. This variety 
resembles a large-flowered Marguerite, or French Daisy, 
more than the conventional Chrysanthemum, and is really 
well worth growing by those who love uncommon things. 
Chrysanthemum seed of good germinating power is now 
easily obtained from any of the large dealers, and the plants 
are as readily propagated from seeds as are the common 
Chinese Asters. There is a good deal of pleasure in watch- 
ing the development of the flowers of seedlings in autumn. 
Sometimes a few really good varieties, worthy of perpetua- 
tion, will be found among them, and in any case the flowers 
are interesting and beautiful, even though the majority of 
them prove to be single. 

— E. O. Orpet. 

South Laticasti'y^ Mass, 



SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS. 



THE production oF improved Chrysanthemums is at 
the present time receiving more than ordinary 
attention, not only in advancement of the art of 
producing fine blooms, but also in exercising keen judg- 
ment in the selection of varieties to produce the seeds. It 
is some time since the artificial cross-fertilization of 
Chrysanthemums was first advocated ; but there were 
many who declined to accept this new theory, holding that 
Nature's own way, by wind and insect agency, could not 
be improved upon. I think hand pollenized seeds are 
to-day preferred to those naturally produced. It certainly 
seems rational to hope for greater achievement from seed- 
lings of selected parentage, than from those which the 
wind (without intent) or the insect (without motive, further 
than its own sustenance) have haphazardly united, good, 
bad and indifferent. 

Late struck cuttings grown on in four-inch pots are the 
most suitable for the seed bearing plants, and should be 
placed by themselves in a dry, light house as soon as they 
show color". When the flower is two-thirds developed, 
take a pair of scissors and cut the florets off close to the 
styles (which are located at the base of the florets), but be 
careful not to cut or injure the styles in any way. In 
from three to ten days the styles will elongate and open at 
the top so as to expose the stigma or upper surface, which 
is the part that is to receive the pollen, and is ready to be 
operated upon when in this condition. If varieties are 
selected which have many disk florets, or, as commonly 
termed, have a center or eye, cut them out before they 
develop pollen, and thus prevent self-fert=lization. Pollen 



may be taken from blooms cut and stored in water for the 
purpose, or from those on the plants, on bright sunny days 
by a camel's hair pencil, and applied to the stigma of any 
desired variety. By having each plant labelled, it is very 
simple to keep a record of the work, and it often affords 
pleasure to know the pedigree of a fine seedling. For this 
take thesmallest size of shipping tag, and first write the name 
of the seed plant and then that of the pollen parent, thus : 

CULLINGFORDII 

X 

Geo. W. Childs, 
and tie it to the plant. In from four to six weeks the seeds 
will be ripe, and may be sown at anytime in light soil, and 
placed in a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees. The young 
seedlings are quite apt to damp off, and should be watered 
with care and given as much air as possible until they have 
the third or fourth pair of leaves, when they may be con- 
sidered past danger. From this time on they will need the 
same attention as other varieties, and may be grown in 
pots, boxes, or on the bench, at the option of the grower. 
In the course of our improvements from time to time we 
have grown more and more exacting, and at present a 
seedling must present many good qualities to be com- 
mended ; and as our varieties, with a few exceptions, are 
mere or less faulty, the hybridizer experiences some diffi- 
culty in making selections for seeding. I doubt if anyone 
has detected the laws of Nature governing the potency of 
varieties as parents, although we do know some have 
greater force than others, showing very markedly their 
peculiarities when used as either seed or pollen parents. 



MEN OF NOTE. 



From our point of view, the massive blooms of these days 
are wonderful improvements, while Dame Nature considers 
us as impostors, our efforts greatly obstructing her law of 
reproducing by seed, and thus it is that there is such a 
tendency in seedlings to revert to the original single type of 
flower. Seedlings from two double flowers often produce 
flowers far inferior to either. This inclination to deteriorate 
or partake of remote antecedents again confronts us in our 
efforts to produce the desired colors. Seeds from two 
whites may produce white, pink, or yellow ; so at the 
beginning we have no assurance of the result. An artist 
will take his palette and show you that a little yellow 
mi.\ed with scarlet will intensify the scarlet, and in adding 
yellow little by little will produce all shades from vivid 
scarlet to orange. A certain amount of white upon red 
will give a beautiful shade of pink, as was brought about 
in tne cross of Edwin Molyneu.x (irimson) poUenized by 



Mrs. Alpheus Hardy (white), producing Lady Playfair 
(pink) ; but more than likely this same operation would not 
produce the same result unless exactly the same conditions 
could be maintained. These variations of results may be 
due to the conditions of the plants treated, such as vigorous 
or weak, or the condition of the stigma at the time it 
received the pollen, or the condition of the pollen when 
applied. In crossing two colors we cannot arrive at 
definite conclusions until the flowers are before us, and 
such conditions will exist until we know more of the laws 
governing the potency of varieties. We may not make 
very marked headway in this direction for years to come, 
but if those interested will keep minute records of the 
results obtained for a number of years, they may be able 
to throw some light on the subject. 

—Elmer D. Smith. 

Adrian, Mich. 



MEN OF NOTE. 



ONE of the most pleasing and instructive forms of 
recreation within the reach of modern gardeners, 
is a perusal of the records of their predecessors in 
the various departments of horticulture and floriculture, as 
generously preserved in the professional journals and mag- 
azines. The annals of our favorite flower fairly teem with 
illustrious names, and in this country John Thorpe must 
be accorded a foremost place among her champions. The 
best years of his life have been spent in promoting the 
interests of floriculture, elevating it to a higher and purer 
standard. He was the prime mover in the formation of the 
Society of American Florists, and the president of that 
institution during the first two years of its existence. But 
notwithstanding this and many other brilliant services ren- 
dered floriculture in general, it is as an advocate of the 
Chrysanthemum that we see him at his best. Always ready 
with tongue and pen to tell of his beloved flower, he taught 
the press and learned societies to recognize her, and thus 
opened the way to the foundation of the Chrysanthemum 
Society of America. He was the author of the first work 
on the flower published in this country, "How to Grow 
Chrysanthemums," which appeared in i8S6. John Thorpe 
is a native of England, having been born in 1842, and 
came to this country in 1874. He was for a time with the 
late firm of V. H. Hallock & Son, of Queens, N. Y., and 
later was engaged in business on his own account at Pearl 
River, N. Y. When the Columbian Exposition was got 
under way at Chicago, he was appointed chief of the flori- 
cultural department, and is now, v.'ith offices in Chicago, I 
understand, engaged in the business of landscape gardener. 
His brusque yet kindly features are perhaps more familiar 
to the florists and gardeners of the United States than those 
of any other horticulturist. See frontispiece. 

EDWIN LONSDALE. 

It will interest many of our European friends to learn 
that the man who now occupies the most influential posi- 



tion in American floricultural affairs, viz. , the presidency of 
the Society of American Florists, is an old school-fellow of 
that eminent horticultural writer, Mr. Brian Wynne, the 
able editor of the " Gardening World." Mr. Lonsdale was 
also secretary of this organization in 1888, first president of 
the American Carnation Society, and first secretary of the 
Chrysanthemum Society of America, so that the crowning 
honor has been well earned. Mr. Lonsdale has always 
taken a leading part in all enterprises having for their 
object the welfare and advancement of American horticul- 
ture. He is perhaps best known as an authority on Carna- 
tions, but has done a vast amount of work in all other 
departments, including Palms, Orchids, Roses and Chrys- 
anthemums. He was born in a small hamlet near Shrews- 
bury, Shropshire. England, but with his parents at an early 
age removed to Shenstone, near Lichfield, Staffordshire. 
After leaving school, he served some years in various Staf- 
fordshire gardens, including those of Manley Hall, and 
about 1865 moved to Hanover Lodge, Regents Park, Lon- 
don. Later he returned to Staffordshire, and was employed 
under Mr. Stephen Taplin (now of Detroit, Mich.), in the 
gardens of Enville Hall, where in a short time he gained a 
more thoroughly practical knowledge of the business than in 
all the previous years he had devoted to it. Coming to this 
country in i86g. he wasemployed by Mr. Thomas Meehan, 
proprietor of the Germantown nurseries, where for about 
two years he had charge of the greenhouse department. 
He then spent some time in California, and returning to 
Philadelphia, settled there to what has proved to be a pro- 
fitable business in 1875. 

ARTHUR H. FEWKES. 
Not many miles from Boston's budy throng, in Newton, 
otherwise known as the Garden City — one of those exquis- 
itely beautiful little residential towns for which the suburbs 
of the old Bay State capital are renowned — may be found 
the home and nursery grounds and greenhouses of Mr. 




MISS M. M. JOHNSON. 



NATURAL SIZE. 



MEN OF NOTE. 



21 



Tewkes. The proprietor is by nature a rather reserved 
man, but the visitor who is interested in Chrysanthemums, 
and competent to talk about them intelligently, can readily 
remove all shyness by turning the conversation to these 
flowers. They are his favorites, and with a knowledge of 
them which I have seldom seen equalled, he delights to 
point out to an appreciative companion their individual 
merits and demerits, meanwhile commenting entertainingly 
on their history. Mr. Fewkes is a native of the city in 
which he resides, and was born in 1856. His interest in 
Chrysanthemums dates back to some fourteen or fifteen 
years ago. when it was first awakened by seeing the plants 
of Dr. H. P. Walcott, E. W, Wood and Joseph Clark at 
the e.Khibitions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 
and by reading in the "Gardeners' Magazine" e.xcellent 
accounts of the European exhibitions and other matters 
bearing on Chrysanthemums. These plants now became 
the one great object of interest to him, and he soon brought 
together one of the most extensive collections of them in 
the country. He became associated with Dr. Walcott in 
the importation of new varieties, and in 1886, through Mr. 
John Fottler, of Boston, the Neesima collection fell into 
his hands. This lot of plants, numbering some thirty 
varieties, attracted widespread attention, as it included the 
famous Mrs. Alpheus Hardy. The story of that captivat- 
ing variety has been more powerful than any other factor in 
arousing a general interest in Chrysanthemums during 
recent years. The collection aI.so contained the popular 
Wm. H. Lincoln, but most of the other varieties have 
passed into oblivion. 

W. A. MANDA. 

The giant figure and earnest face of this wizard of horti- 
culture are well known to all the more prominent gardening 
specialists of Europe and America. His name is familiar 
to amateur and professional growers of plants and flowers 
the world over; but there must still be many of the rank 
and file to whom his personal appearance is unknown, and 
such as these will gladly welcome his portrait, which, by 
the way, is a most excellent one. Mr. Manda is a native 
of Bohemia, where he first saw the light in 1862. His 
father was a forester, and thus our horticulturist of to-day 
was in a measure born to the profession. Indeed, from his 
earliest days he had a strong inclination to studies of plants 
and their cultivation, and in full sympathy with this he was, 
after completing his school education, sent to the gardens 
of the Grand Duke of Hessen-Cassel, at Harowitz, where 
he served three years. Having been employed for length- 
ened periods in prominent gardens, nurseries and seed 
houses of Vienna, Paris and London, he came to this 
country in 1SS3, and soon secured a situation as assistant 
superintendent of the liarvard botanic gardens, Cambridge, 
Mass., and on the resignation of Mr. William Falconer 
some months later, he was appointed superintendent. In 
1SS8 he joined with Mr. James R. Pitcher in establishing 
the United States Nurseries at Short Hills, N. J., and this 
concern being changed to a stock company, he severed his 
connection with it, and commenced business on his own 
account at South Orange, N. J., about a year ago. Mr. 



Manda has raised innumerable new Chrysanthemums of 
the highest quality, and in purchasing the variety Mrs. 
Alpheus Hardy, gave the highest price that has ever been 
paid for one. 

T. D. HATFIELD. 
Undoubtedly intricate as an art, the culture of specimen 
plants of Chrysanthemums requires a large amount of 
patience and perseverance, and that Mr. Hatfield possesses 
these qualities, together with the necessary skill, is fully 
manifest from the superb examples of his work which may 
be seen at the annual e.xhibitions in Boston. The plants 
grown by him are without question the most perfect yet 
produced in this country. How he does it is told else- 
where in these pages. While many growers are certainly 
able to produce flowers of Mrs. Alpheus Hardy of the 
highest quality, Mr. Hatfield is perhaps the only one, at 
home or abroad, who can claim to be similarly successful 
in the development of specimen plants of that beautiful 
though capricious Chrysanthemum. He has exhibited 
some marvellous plants of this variety in New York and 
Boston, and equally good results have followed his treat- 
ment of other sorts reputedly weak or unmanageable. 
Exhibition plants were of very poor quality in the United 
States until he attempted their cultivation some five or six 
years ago ; but since that time the standard of excellence 
has been greatly advanced, and Mr. Hatfield has always 
kept well in front of all competitors. He is a gardener by 
profession, and a native of Cottingham, a small village 
near Hull, Yorkshire, England. Having served some 
years in various gardens in the vicinity of Hull, he went 
to Kew, and remained in that establishment two years. 
He was afterward employed in prominent British gardens, 
and later became foreman of the herbaceous department of 
the Chad Valley Nurseries, Birmingham, whence he came to 
thiscountryin 18S4. After being employed three years in the 
capacity of grower by Messrs. Woolson & Co., of Passaic, 
N. J., he entered upon the duties of his present position 
as gardener to Mr. Walter Hunnewell, of Wellesley, Mass. 

ELIJAH A. WOOD. 

As president of the Chrysanthemum Society of America, 
Mr. Wood has brought the work of the institution into 
that state of activity which alone can make it useful to the 
community. For some time after its foundation, the 
society did not appear to prosper so well as its friends 
expected ; but the placing in oflice of the latest president 
imparted a livelier pace to its proceedings, and the policy 
he has adopted seems to suit our growers better than any 
other. It would have been difficult under any circum- 
stances to make a wiser selection. Mr. Wood is immensely 
popular, and his knowledge of Chrysanthemum matters in 
this country is of the most complete order. He is the 
great social personage of all floricultural gatherings in the 
United States. Small of stature, he is familiarly known 
as " Little Woodie ; " but his brilliant wit and capacity 
for pointed criticism in floral affairs render him a giant 
intellectually. He sings delightfully, and his songs do 
much to make conventions, excursions, etc., enjoyable. 
Mr. Wood is a native of Newton, a few miles from Boston, 



MEN OF NOTE. 



Mdss He waG born in 1S59, and for many years was a 
close neighbor and intimate friend of such Chrysanthemum 
experts as Arthur H. Fewkes and Henry A. Gane. For a 
long time he devoted considerable attention to experiments 
with Chrysanthemums at his father's floral establishment 
in Newton, and he was the first grower to exhibit specimen 
blooms in New York in vases. This event may be said 
to have been the death knell of the exhibition boards and 
boxes formerly in use, and we should certainly feel thank- 
ful for the action which led to the complete suppression of 
such objectionable features. IWr. Wood recently entered 
the employ of the South Denver Floral Co., Denver, Colo., 
but the greater part of his previous life was spent on the 
old family homestead. 

E. o, HILL. 

Few of the florists of the United States can better lay 
claim to the respect cf his fellows than E. G. Hill, of the 
well known rtrm of Messrs Hill & Co., Richmond, Ind. 
The worthy vice-president of the Chrysanthemum Society 
of America has been in the front of the battle for better 
floriculture all his life, and we have the best evidence of a 
warm appreciation of his efforts in the fact that he is an 
ex-president of the Society of American Florists, also of 
the American Carnation Society. Mr. Hill is a native of 
Rochdale, Lancashire, England, but came to this country 
when a mere child. His forefathers were horticulturists 
by profession, and thus as a boy he grew up in the business. 
Having served various prominent firms in the capacity of 
manager, he some years ajo commenced business on his own 
account at Richmond, Ind., laying the foundations of the 
present prosperous concern. Mr. Hill makes specialties of 
Roses, Carnations, Pelargoniums, Begonias and Chrysan- 
themums. His collection of Pelargoniums is said to be 
very fine. In late years he has grown Chrysanthemums 
quite extensively, and has been very successful at the 
exhibitions. He has introduced many of our best modern 
varieties — Mrs. E. G. Hill, Challenge, Eugene Dailledouze, 
etc. Mr. Hill is not so much an originator of new sorts as a 
distributer of them ; but he has himself raised many first- 
class varieties, and he possesses that rare faculty of knowing 
a good thing when he sees it. This is a characteristic of 
the successful florist of the present day, and one that is as 
indispensable as the knowledge of essential procedure in 
the creation and cultivation of novelties. And Mr. Hill 
does know how to grow the flowers, as well as how to 
place them before the public to the best advantage, as all 
can testify who have seen his exhibits in New York and 
elsewhere . 

JOHN N. MAY. 

Somewhere about the year 1869, there came to this 
country a man who was destined to play a prominent part 
in our floricultural circles. This was John N. May, now 
our greatest authority on Roses and iheir cultivation. He 
was born in Middlesex, England, where his father was a 
gardener, and is the descendant of an old Yorkshire 
family that has been in the business of florists and nursery- 
men in that country for several generations. At the age 
of fourteen he was apprenticed to the late J. B. Whiting, 



of Dorking, Surrey, who was at that time well known as 
one of the best practical gardeners in England. After 
serving his time there, he spent some years in other large 
gardens, principally in the north of England. In these 
he was employed, respectively, as journeyman, foreman 
and head gardener, until he came to this country. Having 
been employed for a time in Canada and Vermont, he finally 
located in Madison, N. J., where he shortly took charge of the 
Rose growing establishment of the late E. V. Haughwout, 
with whom he remained until iSSo, when he started in 
business for himself at Summit, N. J. Mr. May is a very 
busy man, attending personally to all the details of his 
extensive grounds and greenhouses, and he has often 
remarked to his friends that he has never been idle or out 
of employment a single day since he was fourteen years of 
age. And yet, he has always found time to take an active 
part in the proceedings of the principal horticultural and 
floricultural societies. Mr. May has always given largely 
of his time and space to Roses ; but of late years he has 
turned somewhat with the popular taste, and now also 
devotes much attention to Chrysanthemums. He has 
raised many excellent new varieties, one of which, Olympus, 
is figured in this volume. 

ELMER D. SMITH. 
The man who has given to the world Niveus — the 
highest and most beautiful type of Chrysanthemum — Is 
well entitled to a prominent place among our notable 
personages. This man is Elmer D. Smith, of the firm 
of Messrs. Nathan Smith & Son, of Adrian, Mich. 
Mr. Smith is quite a young man, as may be judged from 
his portrait among those of the officers of the American 
Society ; but he possesses a very extensive and diversified 
knowledge of Chrysanthemums, and he is also an indefatig- 
able worker in their behalf. The Chrysanthemum Society 
of America owes much of its usefulness to his untiring zeal 
as secretary during the past two years. The paper on 
bench culture which he read before the American Florists 
in annual convention at St. Louis, Mo., 1893, is perhaps 
the most conscientious and thoroughly practical piece of 
work on Chrysanthemums which has yet appeared in this 
country. By going about the work in a thoroughly scientific 
manner, he has succeeded in originating many seedlings 
of sterling merit, and he has been no less careful in the 
selection of names for his productions. This matter of 
nomenclature is far too lightly regarded by the majority of 
growers, and the result is that while we have a large 
number of names which are not exactly synonyms, they 
are, from their close resemblance when hurriedly written, 
the next thing to being identical. And again, many 
names are large and unwieldly beyond necessity, and in 
their use take up more than a fair share of time and space. 
The system of short, one-word names, such as Juno, 
Mayflower, Sunset, etc., first generally adopted by Dr. 
H. P. Walcott, of Cambridge, Mass., some years ago, is 
perhaps the best that can be devised. It is looked upon 
as honoring individuals to bestow their names on varieties, 
but the custom is generally inconvenient, and the honor 
often questionable. — M. B. 



AMERICAN VARIETIES IN EUROPE. 



THERE is much to be done for the growers of Amer- 
ican seedlings in Europe, but the competition is 
exceedingly close. The beautiful varieties of Cal- 
vat, of Crozy, and the English noveltieD, reach us during 
the month of December in time to malce good plants, while 
the American novelties are not received until much later, so 
much so that we cannot cultivate them long enough to 
make exhibition plants of them. It was thus that I received 
last year new varieties from Mr. Spaulding during the 
month of June. I shall hardly be able to see even the 
color of the flowers,. Another grower sent us rooted cut- 
tings in a case that was hermetically sealed, and directed 
to Ghent via Hamburg and Anvers ! There were among 
the number Challenge and Eugene Dailledouze, of which I 
have been able to save a fev/ fragments. It is useless to 
tell you that I did not exhibit either one or the other, and 
thus an entire year was lost. 

Something has to be done in this direction, and it must 
be done, since the American varieties are suitable above all 
others to our methods of culture. Cut flowers occupy only 
a very small part of our time ; the demand is for beau- 
tiful specimens with large flowers, firm branches and beau- 
tiful foliage. American varieties are distinguished in these 
respects, but they should reach us earlier. 

— O. de Meulenaere. 

Ghent, Bcli^iuiii^ 

NONE BETTER. 

In sending a few notes on the behavior of American vari- 
eties in this country, I cannot do better than to first men- 
tion the magnificent Niveus, because I certainly regard it 
as the best sort that has come to the front in recent years 
on our side, and I am not far from the truth in adding that 
it is the finest all around kind yet raised. It is grand for 
any purpose. The bloom is large and deeply built, with 
florets of extra substance, gracefully formed and the purest 
of whites. Its foliage is ample and healthy, the stem strong 
enough to hoid each bloom firmly, and under all modes of 
cultivation the-flowers are double to the center. As abush 
plant for the supply of cut blooms for market, I predict for 
this sort a great future here, as well as taking quite a leading 
position among e.xhibition flowers. I must not forget to 
mention that its easy culture will cause it to find a place in 
the collections of the merest novices in the cultivation of 
our autumn flower. 

W. G. Newitt is a very fine white, but of a different type, 
especially in its growth; but I think when its cultural 
needs are better understood here, this sort will be highly 
valued. The Queen is still another type of white (some- 
times tinted) of very fine size and form for exhibition pur- 
poses, but for general use I fancy it will not become popu- 
lar. One remarkable fact may be noted here : The three 
American varieties here named gained the distinction of 
first class certificates of the National Chrysanthemum Soci- 
ety of England on one and the same day. Add to this the 
fact that the new Philadelphia would most certainly have 
=3 



secured the same honor had the blooms arrived in 'ime,* 
and some idea is obtained as to the position of American 
sorts of the white color in this country. With regard to the 
last-named, judged from the flowers sent over, it appears to 
me to be ore of the noblest of all Chrysanthemums. The 
incurved type of the Japanese is one that does not find such 
favor with us generally as on your side, but the florets 
build up in such a remarkably graceful form in this case as 
to satisfy the taste of everyone in the matter. This sort 
also appears to have a good strong constitution, and we 
have had the best evidence of the lasting qualities of the 
flowers, so that it is safe to say American raisers need not 
fej^r any rivals in the way of producing novelties if they 
continue to send us specimens of such handsome character. 

There is still another most promising white in Mrs. J. 
Geo. lis, which has hardly had time so far to establish itself 
here, although I saw one magnificent bloom from a late- 
struck plant. This was exhibited by an amateur grower, 
and from the extra points gained by it, he managed to win 
a first prize. The bloom measured about eight inches in 
diameter, and was full and solid. There is an apparent 
lack of finish to the florets at their tips, but this may right 
itself another year. Marie Louise should prove a good late 
white. It is strange that Ivory has never had a good trial 
here, although so popular with you. Miss Annie Harts- 
horn is still highly esteemed with us, notwithstanding that 
it has not figured so prominently as it did in 1893. That 
hot season seemed to suit it admirably, and it was grown in 
splendid form. L. Canning is capital as a late-flowering 
sort, the blooms grown in quantity on a plant ; but it failed 
as an exhibition variety. When disbudded the blooms 
absolutely refuse to develop, and I only remember seeing 
one good large flower of it. Potter Palmer is a good white, 
although for some reason it has never become widely known 
here. I have had it from the first, and find it a most excel- 
lent grower, producing a good type of bloom. Such kinds 
as Niveus, however, will now seriously restrict its growth in 
popularity. 

H. L. Sunderbruch, among yellows, is indeed a fine 
variety, but unhappily its constitution is not of the best. 
Magnificent blooms were exhibited last autumn by the two 
or three growers who possess it. The flower is so spread- 
ing and graceful, as well as large, that were it a better 
grower, it would run such varieties as Sunflower, M. Panc- 
koucke and others pretty close for the premier position. 
Duchess of Wellington is an American sort, being one of 
the Pitcher & Manda seedlings purchased by Mr. H. J. 
Jones, which has done well. It is a very fine form of the 
loosely incurved type, and of a shade of yellow that is par- 
ticularly striking. Challenge will be highly valued if by a 
long season's growth it produces blooms a trifle larger than 
we found them last year. It is grand in color. The form 



* This varietv received the higliest honor at the disposal of 
the English society on the arrival o£ the blooms, namely, a 
silver gilt medal.— Ed. 



24 



F UK G O US DISEA SES. 



is perhaps a little too close, but it has one essential much 
prized on your side, namely, a stout stem, holding the flower 
well in position. This quality, as you well know, is not so 
highly appreciated here, because our methods of exhibiting 
cut flowers differ greatly from those that obtain in America. 
And as a case in point I may mention Sunflower, which is 
noted for its weak stem, and yet one of our leading exhibi- 
tion blooms. 

Eugene Dailledouze has not yet had a fair trial. The 
color is good. Major Bonnaffon is, I fear, too small. 
Master Bates Spiulding seems a likely sort to obtain 
honors. It is not a bright 5'ellow, however, nor does it 
appear to have a constitution strong enough to suit the 
general cultivator. The Tribune is a very fine light yellow, 
but it was not seen so often or so good last season as one 
could wish. Perhaps the comparatively sunless year was 
against it. Mrs. R. J. Hamill is an American seedling 
with an English name. This is a tall grower, but it bears 
very handsome flowers of an incurved form. The color is 
light yellow. Sir Edwin T. Smith is another American 
sort, and a most beautiful one. The color is similar to that 
of Golden Gate, which I believe, was introduced from 
Japan, therefore America cannot claim it. And if I am 
informed aright. Golden Wedding is from the same source. 
Lord Brooke in bronzes is by far the best, and is seen 
everywhere. It grows splendidly, and is a certain bloomer. 
Col. W. B. Smith is first in its color and form. Last year 
good specimens were scarce, but in the season of iSg3 it 
was magnificent at all the shows. In this variety America 
can claim one of the best half-dozen Chrysanthemums in 
culiivation. 

George W. Childs will not grow large enough to be 
esteemed as a show bloom. In color it is grand, and the 
plant has other good qualities ; but in these notes I am 
guided by the highest comparisons, and from this stand- 
point the deep crimson American sorts are not equal to 
those of other shades. Wm. Bolia looks like developing a 
fine amaranthine crimson bloom, and tne habit of the plant 



is good. I consider this variety very fine. Eda Prass is 
e.xtra good. When at its best, as I had it in 1893, this is 
one of the most desirable varieties we possess. The growth 
is perfect. Silver Cloud has a valuable shade of color, and 
I imagine we have not yet seen it in its best form. Mrs. 
r. Denne belongs to the incurved section of the Japanese, 
and is a good show bloom. Violet Rose was exhibited in 
good form last autumn, but it is not sufficiently reliable to 
become very popular. 

Among the uncertain ones must be mentioned W. W. 
Coles, grand when at its best. This sort, however, appears 
to thrive most satisfactorily in the cooler parts of the coun- 
try. Harry May, Beauty of Castlewood and Mrs. Charles 
Wheeler are also unstable. Good blooms of the two last 
are particularly handsome, but it requires the most skillful 
growers to bring them to perfection. They appear to have 
a strong dislike to the smoke of our large towns. Wm. 
Tricker is still considered very good. Mrs. E. G. Hill 
makes a fine show bloom, and is extremely useful for sup- 
plying cut flowers in quantity. Its flesh pink is a delightful 
shade. Puritan is good, but beaten by the American vari- 
ety Mrs. W. H. Lees. The flowers of the latter are among 
the largest of all Chrysanthemums, but the plant is excep- 
tionally tall in growth. The number of American incurved 
varieties that are of any assistance to the exhibitor here is 
exceedingly limited. C. B. Whitnall has been seen in good 
form, anJ J. Agate, which would easily pass for the Em- 
press of India, is among the finest of whites. 

The foregoing list contains all the best that come upper- 
most in my mind as I write. Under my care there are, I 
may say, hundreds of sorts from across the Atlantic, some 
of which will as time goes on force themselves to the front. 
At any rate, considering the short time that American 
growers have been engaged in the work of improving the 
Chrysanthemums, their productions will in my opinion 
compare most favorably with those from any other part of 
the globe. — H. Shoesmith. 

London, England. 



FUNGOUS DISEASES. 



THERE are not many known species of fungi that 
prey destructively upon the cultivated Chrysanthe- 
mums. Apparently the first one to be recorded 
was Gidium Chrysanthemi Rabenh., the author treating of 
this fungus somewhat fully in Hedwegia, No. 5, 1853, 
pages 19-21, with illustrations. From this it is evident 
that the Oidium of the Chrysanthemum is the conidial form 
of one of the powdery mildews, and most likely Erysiphe 
cichoracearum D. C, which is a very common parasite 
upon various species of the family Composita;, to which 
the Chrysanthemum belongs. Until the ascospores and 
their perithecia are met with on this host it will be well to 
retain Rabenhorst's name as one of convenience. The 
Oidium is a mildew frequently met with upon the Chrysan- 



themum, and is easily recognized by the white dust that it 
produces upon the foliage, suggesting that flour had fallen 
upon the leaves. Roses are frequently aflected with a 
similar mildew, which was first named Oidium leucoconium 
Desm., but this was afterwards determined to be an early 
stage of Sphjerotheca pannosa Wallr. The Oidium Tuckeri 
Berk, is the widely-known and destructive mildew of grapes 
in Europe. American vines are attacked by Uncinula 
Americana Howe, which has its first form of spore closely 
resembling the Oidium of Europe, and it is likely that 
the grape Oidium belongs to the Uncinula. The Chrysan- 
themum is no unusual instance of a plant being affected 
witl J. powdery mildew which fails to run through its 
whole cycle of spore forms. 










MRS. WM. H. RAND. 



BKDUCKD ONE-FOURTH. 



FUNGOUS DISEASES. 



25 



The mildew of the Chrysanthemum is a fungus consisting 
of fine cobwebby filaments that are confined to the surface 
of the leaf and make their attachments to the host by 
means of minute disks or suckers. In this it is unlike 
the other Chrysanthemum fungous pests, which are deeply 
seated within the tissue of the host. It is more conspicuous 




Fig, i. See Fungous Diseases. 

and less destructive than the other fungous enemies, and 
on account of its superficial nature should be easily 
removed. While it disfigures the plants to some e.xtent, it 
does not seriously check their growth, and gardeners will 
therefore not trouble themselves if nothing more than the 
mildew strikes their plants. 

Leaf Spot. — This fungous trouble, Septoria Chrysan- 
themi E. & D., first came under the writer's notice in the 
winter of 1S91 and 1892 in connection with the study of 
the damping-ofi of Chrysanthemum cuttings, a note upon 
which was made in " Garden & Forest," Feb. 24. 1892, 
and later mentioned in the Report of the New Jersey 
Experiment Station for iSgi. p. 292. The same fungus 
was found by Prof. Beech at the Geneva, N. Y. , Experiment 
Station upon the foliage of greenhouse Chrysanthemums, 
and in the Eleventh Annual Report of the Station, pp. 557- 
60, he writes as follows : " The disease first appears in 
small brown spots which increase in size and number till 
the leaf tissue dies and the foliage drops off. In badly 
diseased plants nearly all the leaves wither and fall away." 
This Septoria was described by Cavara in 1S92, in " Fungi 
Longobardiie Exsiccati," No. 40, with figures. The 
illustration. Fig. i, is made from a leaf in this collection, 
and Fig. 2 is a reproduction of the engraving that 



accompanies Cavara's specimens above mentioned. This 
shows a small portion of one side of an affected leaf in 
thin crosssection. A spore-bearing cavity is seen imbedded 
in the leaf tissue, and in the center of the cavity (pycnidium) 
long slender bodies are to be seen, a few of them projecting 
from. the mouth of the pycnidium. These slender bodies 
are the spores of the fungus, and are shown much more 
enlarged to the left in the engraving. These spores, made 
up of several cells placed end to end, are the " seeds " of 
the leaf blight, and by means of them the trouble spreads 
from plant to plant. As these spores ooze out of the 
cavity bearing them, they may be killed by the fungicide 
applied to the surface of the leaf. Badly blighted leaves 
may have their surface covered with these spores, and 
should therefore be removed from the plants and burned. 
It is also distributed in Brasi and Cavara's " Funghi 
Parasite d' Piante Cultivate," No. 221. 

It is proper to remark here that the same name was 
given to a Septoria found upon a wild Chrysanthemum, 
the 0.x-Eye Daisy, and published by the writer in the 
" Torrey Bulletin" for June, 1893, and No. 301 of 
Seymour and Earle's '■ Economic Fungi." After the 
arrival of Cavara's specimen in the two exsiccati above 
mentioned, and a careful comparison, the American 
Septoria upon Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum proves to 
be different. The pycnidia of the latter are one-half the 
diameter of those of the former and the spores are 
correspondingly smaller, being 14 30 millimeters long in 
the former and 55-60 millimeters m the latter. The 
species upon C. Leucanthemum may therefore well bear 
the name of Septoria mimima Hals. — S. Chrysanthemi 
Hals. , not Cavara. 

During the past year the Septoria upon the cultivated 
Chrysanthemums has become more or less common and 
will likely prove one of the troublesome species of fungi. 
Experiments with fungicides for this pest have been 
carried out at the Geneva Station, and it is recommended, 
after the removal of spotted leaves, to cover the remaining 




Fig. 2. 5ee Fungous Diseases. 

foliage with Bordeaux mixture. " Five or six applications 
will usually be sufticient to keep the foliage covered — 
especially if the soap is used." The following is the 
formula for the Bordeaux mi.xture : "Dissolve in water 
two pounds of copper sulphate (blue stone), add whitewash 
made of one and a half pounds of fresh-slaked lime and 
dilute to twenty two gallons with water, then add enough 
soap to form a suds." 



26 



F UN GO US DISEA SES. 



Recent Blight.— Within the past three years there 
has been considerable damage done to the cultivated 
Chrysanthemums by a blight not easily distinguished from 
the leaf blight (Septoria) above mentioned ; but one which 
under the microscope has its distinct structural characteris- 
tics. This fungus was discovered by Mr. J. Dearness, of 
London, Canada and described b Messrs. Ellis and 




Fig. 3. See Fungous Diseases. 

BY PERinSSION OF "THE AMEEKWN FLOKIST." 

Dearness as Cylindrosporium Chrysanthemi. It is a more 
rapid grower than the Septoria, and plants affected with it 
are often so stridden down as to be unable to make any 
blooms. Mr. Dearness, near the time of the discovery of 
this fungus, published a short paper in the ''American 
Florist " for March 2, 1893, with three engravings, two of 
which are here reproduced. The following are quotations 
from the article : " It was first observed on a table of the 



Mrs. Senator Hearst variety, which had been sent from 
California in the spring. When the fungus appeared the 
plants were in vigorous growth ; they had been planted 
for cut bloom, and had developed stems three-eighths 
inch in diameter with corresponding foliage. On the 
plants affected in August and September the flower buds 
formed, but never opened ; on the plants attacked later, 
flower and foliage were arrested at the 
stage at which the yellowing and dark 
blotching of the leaves set in. * * 
* * The fungus can be easily rec- 
ognized by the dark blotches, usually 
about a half to three-quarters inch in 
diameter. In these blotches, are found 
the spore heaps or pits, and beyond 
them the leaf turns yellow ; not long 
afterward the whole leaf shrivels and 
is drawn downward to the stem." 

The appearance of plants rendered 
worthless by the Cylindrosporium is 
shown in Fig. 3. The writer has 
during the past two years seen hun- 
dreds of plants that were even worse 
than the three here shown. Srme 
varieties appear to be more susceptible, 
but experience is yet too limited to 
warrant the drawing of any conclusions 
concerning the relation of sorts or 
strains of Chrysanthemums to this de- 
structive disease. In Fig. 4 is shown 
the appearance of a Chrysanthemum 
leaf that is affected with the Cylindro- 
sporium. The large dark spots are 
located without order in the leaf, the 
remaining portions having lost the 
characteristic green of health and 
assumed a yellow color. The way in 
which the long spores are produced in 
the leaf and break out through the 
epidermis upon one side is indicated by 
Fig- 5- While the Septoria, Fig. 2. 
has a distinct wall to the spore cavi;y, 
there is none to the Cylindrosporium. . 
This fungus is distributed in Vol. 
XXX., No. 2955. of Ellis's "North 
American Fungi." 

New Leaf Spot. — The latest fun- 
gous enemy recorded upon the Chrys- 
anthemum and the last to receive men- 
tion in this brief article is Phyllosticta 
Chrvsanthemi E. & D., found by Mr. Dearness, at London, 
Canada, and published in the "Canadian Record of 
Science" for January, 1S93. The specimens from which 
the description was made have not been seen by the writer. 
The leaf spots are orbicular, purplish-brown, with a dis- 
tinct border. The same, or a very closely related fungus 
has been met with while examining cuttings of Chrysanthe- 
mums that were suffering from d.imping-off. Occasionally 



FUNGOUS DISEASES. 



'■I 



the Septoria and Phyllosticta have been found upon the same 
blighted and worthless cuttings in the propagating bed. 

REMEDIES. 

Under this head much remains to be determined by actual 
experiments. From the nature of the fungous enemies, it is 




Fig. 4. See Fungous Diseases. 

BY PERMISSION OF "THE AMERICAN' KLOUIST-" 

quite evident that the ordinary fungicides will check the 
trouble. In the first place it goes without further saying 
that the stock from which cuttings are taken should be as 
healthy as possible. Here, as with Carnations, or in fact 
any plant, a diseased plant will yield weak cuttings. The 
conditions which surround the slips as they are set in the 
moist sand are favorable to the rapid growth of the fungus 
that was already in the cutting when removed from the 
parent plant. As a second precaution — and precautionary 
measures are often the most effective fungicides — the 
blighted portions of small plants should be looked for and 
removed before they have served their day as spore pro- 
ducers. There is certainly much to be done in the study of 
varieties and the rejection of those that are constitutionally 
weak or predisposed to fungous diseases. If, for example, 
the variety Golden Wedding is swept off year after year 
with the leaf blight, it is only proper that that sort be given 
up b}^ growers who fail with it. One blighted variety may 
serve as a place of propagation for the germs that harm 
other sorts not otherwise affected. 



It is doubtless true that much good could be donp by 
using fungicides, Two only of these will be here considered, 
because they are the leading ones, namely, the Bordeau.-c 
mixture and the ammoniacal solution of carbonate of 
copper. The former is easily made in small quantities as 
follows : Dissolve six ounces of blue stone 
(sulphate of copper) in a quart of warm 
%vater. Slake six ounces of stone lime in a 
quart of water; strain the lime and water 
through a coarse cloth and pour the milk of 
lime into the vessel with tire sulphate of cop- 
per ; strain all through a sieve and add water 
to make four gallons. This fungicide should 
be applied once a week with a knapsack 
sprayer to all parts of the plants. When 
the plants are few, a smaller amount of the 
mixture can be made up and applied with a 
bellows vaporizer. 

The second mixture named above is made 
by dissolving five ounces of carbonate of 
copper in three quarts of ammonia and adding 
fifty gallons of water. An aliquot part cf 
the above may be taken if a smaller quan- 
t'.ty is desired. Moisten the carbonate of cop- 
per with water in a bottle and add the re- 
quired quantity of ammonia. The solution 
may be kept corked in the bottle indefinitely, 
and the amount desired poured into the water 
in the spraying vessel as needed for use. 
The latter mixture is not as effective as the 
Bordeaux, but does not leave a coating of 
lime upon the plants which would be objected 
to by some Chrysanthemum growers. 

NEMATODES OR EEL-WORMS. 

In the Report of the New Jersey Experi- 
ment Station for iSgo, record is made of 
microscopic worms being frequently found in 
the foliage of Chrysanthemums. The plants 
thus infested faied to maintain vigor or produce blooms ; 
the leaves become curled and brown. Professor Atkinson, 
to whom spec- 
imens were 
submitted, re- 
ported that the 
species, a gen- 
uine parasite, 
;asundescrib- 
ed, and pro- 
posed for it the 
name of Aphe- 
lenchus folii- 
colous, a ne- 
matode that 
seems to enjoy 




Fig. 5. See Fungous Diseases. 

BY PEEMISSIOX OF "THE AMERICiX FLi'RIST.' 



a wide range of hosts as it frequents the foliage of Coleus, 
Lantanas, Bouvardias, and other ornamental plants. 

—Byron D. Halsted. 
Ne-a Brunswick, iV. jf. 



THE GOLDEN WEDDING TROUBLE. 



(The Gardeners' Magazine.) 



A CONSIDER ABLE number of diseased Chrysan- 
themums have been handed to me for examination, 
the form called Golden Wedding suffering to the 
greatest extent, although the disease is unfortunately not 
by any means confined to this variety. 

The disease is due to the attack of a minute fungus 
called Botrytis infestans Haszl., a species first detected in 
Hungary in 1S76, where it attacked hemp plants in a 
wholtsale way. During the interval nothing has been heai d 
of this pest until the present season, when its widespread 
ravages are demonstrating to gardeners the capabilities 
of a minute fungus, and, we trust, also the necessity of 
becoming acquainted with the mode of life of desttuclive 
fungi generally, in which case waves of disease like the 
one under consideration would not be so prevalent as at the 
present day. The spores or reproductive bodies of the 
fungus are mature, and floating in the air, seeking what they 
may devour just about the season when Chrysanthemums 
are preparing to bloom, and find a congenial home on the 
tender upper portion of the Chrysanthemum stem, to 
which they are borne by the wind. Once on the moist 
stem, the spores germinate within a few hours, the delicate 
germ-tube entering the tissues through the stoniata. and 
very soon develops into a branching weft of mycelium or 
"spawn" in the superficial cells of the plant. About 
three days after the fungus has made its first attack the 
mycelium has accumulated a goodly supply of material in 
its cells, derived entirely from the plant on which it is 
parasitic, and is ready to produce its fruit. At this stage, 
slender, pale olive-green branches are pushed through the 
stomata into the air, the tips remain colorless, become 
b oken up into three or four short, stout branchlets, eacli 
of which bears a large quantity of egg-shaped, colorless 
spores, which are at once blown away by the wind, and are 
ready to germinate the moment they come in contact with 
another Chrysanthemum stem. By this means of rapid 
reproduction it will be observed that when the parasite is 
once establi>hed the infection of a whole batch of plants 
may be accomplished within a week, especially in damp, 
warm weather. 

At the first stage of attack the fungus, as already stated, 
pushes its fruiting branches through the stomata into the 
air, but as the mycelium spreads in the tissues of the plant 
the fruiting branches burst through the ruptured epidermis 
in clusters, and very soon the whole upper portion of the 
stem is covered with a short, velvety, olive-green nap, 
consisting entirely of the fruiting branches of the energetic 
little fungus, and when examined with a good pocket lens, 
the sparkling clusters of spores can be seen at the tips of 
the branchlets. Being a rare fungus — until the present 
season — its life-history is not known, but from analogy, it 
is not a complete individual in the condition we know it at 
present, but only a stage in the cycle of development of a 
cup-shaped, long-stalked fungus called selerotinia ; which 



form, if present, will develop next spring from the mycelium 
present in the old rotting stems of Chrysanthemums that 
have been attacked by the Botrytis form during the autumn. 
Next summer the selerotinia form will produce spores, 
which, on finding their way onto a Chrysanthemum stem, 
will in turn produce the Botrytis condition. Even if no 
selerotinia form does exist, the mycelium of the Botrytis 
form will continue to grow and live through the winter 
in the diseased, rotten stems which the gardener consider- 
ately throws on the rubbish heap. 




Botrytis Infestans. 

Preventive measures are of the utmost importance. It 
is impossible to cure plants that are diseased. When the 
fungus is once in the tissues its mycelium spreads to every 
part, the leaves of the shoot often also showing the disease. 
The lower and harder portion of the. stem is not attacked, 
being too hard to admit of the germinating spores 
penetrating its substance ; but the. leaves it bears are 
finally attacked, being inoculated with the spores falling 
from the upper diseased portions. Plants that show 
indications of the disease should have the infected parts 



EUROPEAN VARIETIES IN AMERICA. 



29 



cut off and burnt — not thrown on the rubbish heap — and 
apparently liealthy plants should be syringed with a rose- 
colored solution of potassic permanganate (Condy's fluid), 
or a weak sclution of Bordeaux mixture — -one ounce of 
sulphate of copper, one-quarter ounce of quicklime dissolved 



in a ga'lon of water. As the fungus will in all probability 
appear next season, it would be well to anticipate it by 
using either of the above solutions soon after the appearance 
of the flowering shoots. 

— G. Massee. 



EUROPEx'VN VARIETIES IN AMERICA. 



DURING the past season I tried a great many of the 
leading European varieties ; but wiih two or three 
exceptions, they have proved unsuitable for 
American cultivation, and this notwithstanding that they 
had all received high honors in Europe. Possibly the 
difference in climate had a great deal to do with their 
failure here ; but be that as it may, our domestic novelties 
grown under the same conditions proved infinitely superior. 

— John N. May. 

Sumviit, vV. J. 

A FINANXIAL VIEW. 

My experience with all continental varieties has been 
such that I have decided in future to let them alone. I 
have for more than five years imported everything at fancy 
prices and high express charges, and the result has been 
that I have received generally rubbish of the most useless 
character These importations have not averaged one good 
variety per year, and this disappointment and loss, in 
addition to the trouble and expense of filling the green- 
houses with sorts that must ultimately be discarded, and 
the flowers of which are too small or too poor in quality to 
be sold. It costs from two hundred 10 three hundred 
dollars per novelty of any value to discover those of good 
character, and this is an expenditure of actual cash that 
does not return; ,.;^>However reluctant I may be to resign it, 
I shall be compelied to let others carry on this necessary 

work in the time to come. 

— Thos. H. Spaulding. 

Orang-e, A^. J. 

ORNAMENTAL OUTDOORS. 

It is gratifying to know that for the past few years we 
have been independent of foreign growers, so far as the 
production of new varieties of Chrysan'.hemums is con- 
cerned In nearly all lines of plants we are accustomed to 
look abroad for novelties; but in the case of the golden 
flower, the eves of the foreign grower are on us, as the 
very best varieties of to-day are either of American origin or 
imported from Japan through American houses. Whether 
this result has been brought about through better climatic 
conditions for ripening the seed and closer contiguity to 
Japan, or through other more subtle influences, need not 
enter into a review of the subject of these notes. 

Prominent among the varieties received from Europe 
within the past three years, which is as far as it appears 
necessary to go backward, is Charles Davis, a bronze sport 
from Viviand Morel. Beauty of Exmouth is a v^ry fine 
white, but a little weak in the neck for exhibition on long 
stems. Shown on a board, this beautiful variety is seen at 



its bsst. We have a good creamy-white sort in Mdlle. 
Therese Rey, and J. Shrimpton, of bright crimson color, 
might be called an improved CulUngfordii. L'Enfant des 
Deux Mondes, the white sport from Louis Boehmer, is 
excellent, and Florence Davis a very pretty white flower, 
tinged green The latter variety, however, is troubled 
with a weakness of the neck, an infirmity by the way 
which we seem more anxious to avoid than the growers 
across the Atlantic, and simply because we no longer use 
the old-fashiou'id boards in our exhibitions. The main 
interest in European varieties centers now around the 
Delaux early-flowering sorts. These cannot compete in 
size and color with the great mass of later- flowering kinds ; 
but for open air culture, the latter are practically useless 
in northern latitudes. 

Too much stress has been laid, I think, on the fitness or 
unfitness of certain varieties ibr cut-flower purposes. The 
Chrysanthemum Society of America, being composed 
mainly of men who are growing the Chrysanthemum for 
cut flowers, is prone to regard new varieties from one point 
of view only. This I regard as a mistake. Horticultute 
is broader than the cut- flower market, and there is room 
without crowding for the cut-flower varieties, the pompons, 
the .Anemones, the singles, the tasselled and all the other 
quaint forms. If, then, the committees of our Chrysan- 
themum society cannot see merit in any variety unless it is 
of a stated size and shape, or without certain lines of color, 
they should state distinctly that they speak only from the 
standpoint of the cut-flower grower. This would clear up 
a wrong impression which obtains in some quarters, viz. , 
that they constitute the last court of appeal on everything 
connected with new varieties of Chrysanthemums. 

We want greater variety both of form and color in the 
flowers, if this plant is to retain its hold upon the people. 
The Delaux .or September-flowering section fills an impor- 
tant position in this regard, and it is to be hoped that tuch 
improvement will be made in them as has been made in the 
later flowering varieties. The list is a long one, but the 
following are the crtam of the tested sorts, all of which 
were in full bloom October 15th, of last year, and some of 
them in flower as early as September 25th Mdme. 
Charvin, rosy pink, white shadings ; Eugene Farez, dee[) 
bronze, golden reverse; M. Gustave Grunervvald, lilac 
pink, a grand variety ; Mdlle. Fleurot, white, tipped rose ; 
Mdme. Gastellier, white, in bloom September 25th; M. 
Lefrancols, light pink, marktd white; Veuve Clicquot,, 
dull red aud yellow ; M. Frederic L'Usmayer, yellow and 



3° 



INSECT FRIENDS AND ENEMIES. 



crimson; M. Henri Galice, red and yeilow ; Mdme. 
PichoD, light pink ; Georges Devred, canary-yellow ; 
iVIdme. Veuve Pasquier, creamy-white ; Mdme. Ferdinand 
Bergman, pure white ; JMdme. Greard, creamy-while ; 
Mdme. Mathilde Cassagneau, light rose, reverse silvery- 
pink ; Mdme. Mathilde Bettziche, creamy-white, marked 
light rose, lemon center ; M. Valery Larbaut, deep ro=e 
and creamy-white, dv>'arf habit ; Duchesse de Crussol, 
rich chrome yellow, reddish center ; J. B. Duvoir. light 
pink, changing to white ; Mdme. Marie Constans, silvery- 
white, lemon center ; Gaetan de Venoge, yellow, rose 
edges ; Mdlle. Jacob, white and lilac ; Chev. Ange Ban- 
diera, a grand variety, pink and white, with yellow center ; 
Albert Chausson, yellow and deep crimson ; M. Francois 
Katzer, deep rose and light yellow ; Jean Nicholas, glossy 
rose and soft white ; Mdme. B. Vung, deep crimson, 
shaded red ; Mdme. Louis Lionnet, white, tinged rose ; 
\'ice- President Hardy, golden-yellow, boraered crimson ; 
M. E. Vaucher, light red, marked white ; CamiUe 
Bernardin. amaranth and brilliant carmine, edged white. 



The foregoing is tlie best selection tliat could be made 
from over two hundred varieties on trial. 

In closing this paper I wish to make an earnest plea for 
naturally grown Chrysanthemums. Feed them well and 
pinch back the shoots so as to form a bush, and when the 
plants are in bloom leave all the informal sprays to nod and 
sway in their own graceful manner. I also want to 
emphasize the fact that the garden does not seem complete 
without Chrysanthemums, and man)' of them will bear the 
chill autumn blasts without shrinking. When the leaves 
are falling, the grass turning brown, and so many days 
bring leaden skies, the bronzes, yellows, pinks, whiles and 
intermediate shades of the Chrysanthemum seem so appro- 
priate in such setting that there would appear to be a 
serious void without them. These September-flowering 
sorts are in every way adapted to outdoor gardening, 
particularly in the North, as they will perfect their bloasoms 
before the frosts become so severe as to injure them. 

— Patrick O'Mara. 

Xcw York. 



INSECT FRIENDS AND ENEMIES. 



A LARGE number of the insects which infest Chrys- 
anthemums are most injurious to the plants, and 
it would often seem that just as we have learned 
how to effectually check the ravages of one destructive 
pest, others even more rapacious come to renew the attack. 
But all of the insc s found on these plants are not of this 
class, although it frequcndy happens that every creature 
possessing insect characters is considered among the enemies 
of vegetation. On the contrary, some insects are in reality 
most helpful to the growers of decorative plants, and it 
would be an excellent invesment of a lew leisure hours to 
devote them to some investigaiion of the habits of insects, 
so that the injurious ones could be readily distinguished 
from those of a beneficial character. It is wanton folly to 
destroy such insects as will enable us to preserve our plants 
ia healthy condition. Rather should we strive to prolong 
their lives and increase their numbers. The insects most 
commonly found on Chrysanthemums are here named in 
alphabetical order, and some descriptions of them and their 
work, with instructions for the eradication of detrimental 
kinds, are given to enable the inexperienced to deal with all 
according to their deserts. 

Ants. — The little brown ants so common in greenhouses 
and on plants grown therein are by no means injurious. 
Occasionally they appear in such large numbers that their 
presence is objectionable; but it should be remembered 
that they are great scavengers, and while working little or 
no injury to plants or structure, they speedily clear both of 
a lot of detestable matter in the form of dead and dying 
insects. The'r presence should therefore be tolerated. 



Black Aphis. — Entomologists have neglected their duty 
somewhat in failing to notice this much dreaded er.emy of 
vegetation, although it has been privately described and 
given the provisional name of Aphis Domi, It multiplies 
with amazing rapidity, and is found on the young shoots 
and leaves of many cultivated plants, being very partial to 
Chrysanthemums, deforming the foliage and destroying its 
vitality. Happily, however, it is easily held in check by 
the frequent application of pyrethrum powder, or by fumi- 
gation with tobacco. 

Caterpillars. — The green caterpillars which abcund en 
the plants, indoors and out, all through the growing reason, 
are very destructive. They live upon the fleshy portion of 
the leaves, leaving only the thin epidermal covering of the 
■ upper surface, and occasionally devouring the leaves 
bodily. Sometimes they also attack the soft young shoots, 
treating them in similar fashion. They are easily traced 
by their work and their blackish excrement, and they 
should be at once picked off and destroyed. Usually they 
are found on the under side of the leaves. 

Chrysopa. — We have a friend in the lirvce of the lace- 
wing fly, of the group of insects known to entomologists 
under the name of Chrysopa, which is an insatiable enemy 
of aphides and kindred pests. This caterpillar is of grey- 
ish color, and nearly an inch in length. It kills and de- 
vours the minor insects in large numbers, and in this re- 
spect is certainly one of the best helpers of plant growers. 
The perfect insect, or fly, is extremely pretty, having 
beautiful lace-like wings and golden eyes. 

Qreen Fly. Perhaps the most familiar of all green- 




OLYMPUS. 

NATDRAL.SJZK. 



INSECT FRIENDS AND ENEiM/ES. 



31 



house insects is the Aphis, commonly l<no\vii as tlie green 
fly. The young and tender branches of soft-wooded 
plants are its favorite abode, and where once it gets a foot- 
ing it speedily becomes plentiful. The insects feed upon 
the juices of the plant, which soon shows the result in its 
sickly appearance and ultimate death. The insects and 
their deposits also render the foliage and flowers very un- 
sightly, even before they have effected any serious physical 
injury. Tobacco smoke is the best remedy. 

Lady Birds.— There are many kinds of these beautiful 
insects. The beetle-like creatures, with variously spotted 
red coats, are common everywhere during the summer 
months, and they sometimes make their appearance in 
greenhouses in winter and spring. They and their larvce 
feed largely on the various aphides, and in this way do 
valuable work while they cause no injury to the plants over 
and among which they crawl. Sometimes they are very 
common, and appear to pervade every nook and corner, 
and at other times it is difficult to find a single specimen. 
They should never be destroyed, but if possible an effort 
should be made to increase their number among such plants 
as are subject to the attacks of aphides. 

Mites — Much havoc was made among Verbenas some 
years ago by insects commonly known as mites. This is 
the two-spotted mite, Tetranychus 2-maculatus, a close rel- 
ative of the red spider. It appears to be common now in 
the greenhouses of many parts of the country, attacking 
plants of various kinds. Chrysanthemums among the num- 
ber. It is a small, whitish insect, even more minute than 
the red spider, and affects the plants in much the same way. 
It is extremely difficult of eradication, and thrives apace in a 
dry atmosphere. The opposite conditions are not so favor- 
able to its development, and greenhouses, including the 
walls, paths, plants, surface soil of benches, etc., to which 
it has gained access should therefore be kept continually 
damp, and damp in this case does not of necessity mean 
dripping wet. Persistence in this course will stamp it out 
more effectually than any known insecticide ; although 
where it has been present in strong force, spraying with 
kerosene emulsion has proved efficient in dislodging it. 
The emulsion should be applied thin — twenty-five to thirty 
parts of water to one of the emulsion — and often, say three 
or four times a month. Two dressings applied in quick 
succession will probably annihilate all the fully developed 
insects on the plants, but the numerous eggs are still unaf- 
fected, and in the course of a week or two the plants are as 
bad as ever. A thin mi.xture is preferable to a thick one 
for the reason that it spreads more readily over every part 
of the plant, and some care should be taken to wet the 
entire plant. The insects are generally most numerous on 
the lower side of the leaves, and particular pains should be 
taken in applying the mixture to these parts. It is gene- 
rally supposed that the peculiar "frozen" appearance of 



(Golden Wedding and other varieties is due to the ravages 
of these insects, but this is a mistake. The trouble with 
those varieties is of an altogether different nature, and one 
that is traceable to a fungus, Botrytisinfestans, which may 
be destroyed by a liberal use of Bordeaux mixture. 

Red Spider. — Like the preceding, the red spider, 
Tetranychus telarius of scientists, is so small that it has 
often done serious injury before it is noticed. In a dry 
atmosphere it forms a regular maze of web-work on the 
under side of the leaves of the plants, and, if unchecked, 
in time extends its railroads of destruction over every part 
of the entire collection, sapping their vitality until they 
become blanched, withered and lifeless. The dry condi- 
tions are as essential to its existence as the juices of the 
plant which form its food, and therefore the treatment 
prescribed for the two-spotted mite is also the best in its 
case. 

SyrpllUS. — It is pleasant to turn from these bold 
enemies to another of our friends in the larva; of the 
Syrphus fly. It is a brownish creature, about half an inch 
in length, much enlarged behind and pointed in front. 
Living chiefly upon aphides, it hoists the object of its 
attack on its tentacle-like beak and drains it of its life 
substance. 

Tarnished Plant Bug. — Among Chrysanthemum 
growers this pest is perhaps better known as the Chrysan- 
themum fly, and its scientific name is Lygus lineolaris. 
This insect is very common, and we are indebted to it for 
the injury known as blind growths or blind buds. It is of 
stout build, about one-fourth of an inch in length and 
of brownish or yellowish color. It attacks a great variety 
of plants, and seems especially fond of Chrysanthemums. 
Anyone who has collected seeds of our hardy herbaceous 
perennials in autumn must have come in contact with it, 
for it abounds in the flower heads of Asters, Solidagos, and 
the like, and may be at once recognized from its disagree- 
able odor when bruised. It punctures the young growth, 
buds and leaves of Chrysanthemums, extracting and 
subsisting on their juices, and thus renders them useless. 
Pyrethrum powder and kerosene emulsion are the best 
preventives of its attacks, and where the insects are few 
in number they may be collected by hand with little 
trouble. 

Tiirips. — Several species of these little insects infest 

garden plants. It is known that they injure the foliage by 

mutilation and by withdrawing its fluids, and their black 

deposits have the effect of putting a decided stop to the 

development of the leaves. When the dark, roundish 

spots are noticed, both surfaces of the leaves of plants out 

of doors should be thoroughly sprayed with tobacco-water, 

and plants in similar circumstances under glass should be 

fumigated with tobacco, 

-M. B. 



AUSTRALIAN METHODS. 



THE culture of Chrysanthemums in Australia may be 
said to be in its infancy — a very promising baby so 
far, but still undeveloped. Seven years ago I 
attended a show of the Horticultural Society of New 
South Wales, and there first paid my homage to our queen. 
I have not been long enough in the country to know the 
previous history of the flower, but the samples then 
exhibited would pass unnoticed beside those of last season. 
The soil and climate differ so widely, according to locality, 
in this country, that it is only natural to hear a variety of 
opinions as to the sorts that thrive most satisfactorily under 
the different conditions. For instance, within a six-mile 
radius of Sydney there is the sandstone district, with a 
light and poor sandy loam, and the district of heavy clay, 
overlying shale. Again, near the coast, as at Sydney, we 
have a heavy rainfall — from fifty to one hundred inches per 
annum — and a continually moist atmosphere during the 
growing season ; whereas, in the districts west of the Blue 
Mountains, the air is dry, while the soil in places is 
extremely rich, especially along the courses of the main 
rivers, where the alluvial flats indicate the future home of 
the Australian Chrysanthemum grower. My experiences, 
however, have not extended beyond Sydney, and I will 
therefore confine my remarks to that district. 

Chrysanthemums here are grown for exhibition in two 
ways, either in pots or the open ground. The methods of 
pot culture are, I presume, common to the whole world. 
But since the management requires more time and care 
than most people can afford, this plan is only adopted by 
a few. There is, nevertheless, one essential difference 
in the treatment here as compared with that of England 
at least, viz., that the plants which have throughout their 
entire growth remained in the open air, are not removed to 
glass houses to bloom, but are protected from sun and rain 
by calico, or removed to any cool shelter, as a verandah or 
shed. The system generally pursued here is that of open 
garden culture, the following details of which apply to my 
own process. This I find differs somewhat from that of 
other growers, notably in the space allotted to each plant, 
and in the manner of training, I will begin the year's 
work in June, as the flowers are then past, and the 
unsightly growth has been removed. The old stools, now 
vigorous in the production of suckers, are taken up and 
planted again in a warm, airy situation, giving them a 
thorough dressing of lime to keep off slugs during the 
winter. The ground is then trenched lightly and left fallow 
until spring. In September it is again broken up, digging 
in a plentiful supply of farmyard or stable manure, also a 
little lime. October and November are the best months 
for planting. The sun is then very hot at times, conse- 
quently a cloudy day is usually chosen for this important 
operation. 

About a month previous to this the cuttings have been 
taken from the old plants, and propagated in light soil care- 
fully prepared, either in bo.xes or in the open ground. 



Many growers do not trouble even about cuttings, merely 
taking a rooted sucker from the parent piant. I have tried 
both and prefer the cuttings as usually affording dwarf 
plants of the sturdiest character, and the least liable to 
produce suckers. The rooted cuttings are planted two feet 
apart in rows two feet six inches or three feet asunder. 
The plants are arranged in the rows according to the height 
of the varieties, and stout stakes from four to seven feet 
high are driven in the ground beside them, one to each 
p'ant. As summer advances a mulch of stable litter is 
applied to the soil, and in dry weather the foliage and roots 
of the plants are well watered every alternate evening. 
The principal work now is the pinching of the laterals, each 
plant being allowed to mature from three to six flowers, 
more or less according to the strength of the variety. 
Grandiflorum, for example, also Sunflower and Edwin 
Molyneux, will carry six flowers, while Lady Trevor Law- 
rence, Mdme. Clemence Audiguier and others will bear 
only three good blooms. In training the plants, thin 
laths — those used by builders for pla.ster work, costing here 
about thirty-eight cents per hundred — are tied to the stakes 
horizontally, forming a trellis work. The tallest plants 
require three rows of laths, the medium two and the dwarfs 
one. The flower stems are tied to these with raffia, the 
last tie being about three inches under the flower bud. This 
plan is very efficacious against the heavy southerly gales 
which are prevalent throughout the summer, and it also 
enables the grower to pass between the rows without dam- 
aging the branches, besides giving a generally neat and 
orderly appearance to the plantation. 

In January and February the pleasures of the chase com- 
mence, or in other words, the caterpillars must be hunttd. 
The most troublesome of these is a small green one similar 
to that found on Rose leaves, and is to be detected by the 
curled leaf in which it encases itself. Unless constant 
search is made for this epicure, failure is certain, as nothing 
seems to satisfy it but the young growth at the apex of the 
stem. Later on a larger caterpillar will destroy an opening 
flower in a single night. Other insect pests, such as slugs, 
earwigs and aphides, are I believe known universally, and 
dealt with appropriately. The chief difficulty we have 
comes with the flowering period, and is in guarding the 
blooms from the neavy lains alternated by fierce sunshine. 
The past season has been a particularly trying one. Con- 
tinuous rain throughout April produced a moist atmosphere 
which caused the flowers to damp off as soon as they had 
developed. Under such circumstances no shelter can pre 
serve the flowers, but in general a sufiicient protection is 
secured by fastening a conical cap of brown paper to stakes 
in such a position over each bloom as to guard it against 
rain and sun. A more satisfactory way is to construct a 
light framework of hardwood , over the whole bed, fixing 
roller blinds of unbleached calico thereon, so that all the 
plants can be covered or exposed as desired. A cheap 
umbrella, preferably a white one. is another device which I 



CANADIAN NOTES. 



33 



have adopted with much success, fastening it with wire to 
the stalie of the plant. In any case, shelter of some sort 
is absolutely necessary, though I have found that too much 
shading causes the pink varieties to lose their color, Etolle 
de Lyon, for instance, developing a pure white flower under 
prolonged shade, Liquid manure is usually given twice a 
week during the month the buds take to expand, sulphate 
of ammonia, soot water and cow manure in turn. 

Among the varieties most in favor here, I may say that 
the Japanese preponderate. Those of the incurved section 
seem to require a colder and drier climate than that of 
Sydney, but succeed admirably, I am informed, in the 
higher inland districts. For this reason they are neglected 
to some e.\tent. However, I have noticed the following as 
the best incurved varieties yet exhibited in our city . 
Jeanne d'Arc, Jardin des Plantes, Lord Wolseley, Anto- 
nelli. Eve, Mabel Ward, Miss M. A. Haggis, Mrs. G. 
Rundle, Prince Alfred, Baron Beust, Miss Violet Tomlin, 
Guernsey Nugget, Ami Hoste, Empress of India, Lady 
Dorothy, Lord Eversley, Globe White, and M. R. Bahuant. 
It is noticeable that the Queen of England family. 
Lord Alces'er, etc., are rarely exhibited, from the fact 
that they seldom show their true character here, generally 
coming out a straggling reflexed flower. I have given up 
this entire group in consequence. The most popular 
Japanese varieties are Lady T. Lawrence, Sunflower, 
E. Molyneux, Viviand Morel, Syringa, with its white 
sport ; Thunberg, Etoile de Lyon, Mr. A. H. Neve, 
Mdme. C. Audiguier, Maiden's Blush, W. H. Lincoln, 
C mte de Germiny, Mrs. Fottler, Mrs. A. Carnegie, 
Eynsford White, Pelican, Mrs. Dunnett, with its sport. 



Mr. C. Bennett, originated in the garden of Mr. Bradley, 
Sydney ; Mrs. Irving Clark, Grandillorum, Violet Rose, 
Stanstead Surprise, L. Canning, Condor, Puritan, Val 
d'Andorre, Coronet, Mrs. Langtry, Mdlle. Paul Dutour, 
Mrs. W.K. Harris, Hamlet, Mrs. E.W. Clarke, Miss Annie 
Hartshorn, Mrs. C. W. Wheeler, Louis Boehmer, Mrs. J. 
Wright, AnnaM. Payne, Mrs. C. Orchard, Ada Spaulding, 
William Stevens, Mr, PI. Cannell, Pride of Madford, a 
beautiful Melbourne variety ; Wm. Tricker, J. S. Dibbens, 
G. F. Moseman, Beauty of Castlehill, Mrs. E. D. Adams, 
E. G. Hill, and Cesare Costa, The reflexed varieties are 
very seldom grown, CuUingfordii and King of the Crim- 
sons being the most prominent. The Anemones are 
coming into notice, as I have recently seen good blooms 
of some leading sorts. Seedlings of various types have 
been produced and exhibited here during the past three 
years, and some of them promise well. 

The year i8g2 is memorable for the foundation of the 
Australian Chrysanthemum Society, which it is hoped will 
do something to increase popular interest in the flower and 
stimulate the energies of growers in general. The prime 
mover in this association is Mr. Alfred Lee. The most 
successful exhibitor, and perhaps the largest grower in New 
South Wales, is Mr. Robert Forsyth, of North Sydney, 
whose gardener, Mr. Gates, has grown some wonderful 
specimens. With regard to the size of our blooms, I may 
say that the largest I have seen was one of Pelican, which 
measured ten inches in diameter. The average exhibition 
flowers are from five to eight inches across, while the depth 
seldom exceeds three inches. _H. J. Carter. 

Sydney, New South Wales. 



CANADIAN NOTES. 



THE history of the Chrysanthemum in Canada is 
not a very long one, as previous to our first show 
in 1890 it was not very much grown. A few 
private growers with greenhousei had small collections, 
mostly imported from England, and made up in great part 
of various forms of the Chinese and pompon types. The 
florists only grew a few of them. Elaine was then con- 
sidered the best white. Tokio I also remember as a bronzy 
yellow ; but there was no attempt to disbud, or to go in at 
all for large exhibition flowers. I think it a great pity that 
the pompons have been a'most entirely discarded. There 
are still a few of them to be seen, but very few. They 
make the prettiest little bush plants imaginable. Since 
iSgo the improvement in the varieties grown, style of 
cultivation and the size of the blooms have b.-en simply 
wonderful. And now we have all the new varieties up to 
date, while our annual exhibitions bring out blooms of as 
fine quality as are to be seen anywhere. There seems to 
be no flagging in the enthusiasm either of the florists or 
the general public. Indeed, it rather spreads from year 
to year, and well it may. As a matter of fact I cannot 
think of a better flower for making a show bright and 



attractive in the eyes of all the people, or one calculated as 
capable of doing so much good work in promotion of the 
best interests of fiariculture in particular, and incidentally 
of gardening in general. 

Roses and Carnations, of course, have a place in these 
exhibitions, and it has been demonstrated that their 
introduction does not in any way affect the popularity of 
the Chrysanthemums. The people come primarily to see 
the Chrysanthemums, but we have found that a variety of 
attractions is by no means distasteful to them. 

I have forwarded you a copy of our latest prize list, and 
you will see from it that the prizes are given simply for 
plants and blooms of Chrysanthemums, without regard as 
to the class — incurved, Japanese, po.-npon or Anemone — to 
which they belong. Next year I think we shall probably 
make a radical change in it and call for flo^rer^ and plants 
of the various types, though I am afraid it is going to be 
rather difficult to draw the line as to where the types begin 
and end. But something has to be done in that direction, 
or we shall soon leave out beauty altogether and get 
nothing but size. —A. H. Ewing. 

ToTonlo, Canada. 



IN FAR CHINA. 



TUE origin of the cultivated Chrysanthemum is a 
difficult question to settle with certainty. Induc- 
tion, however, would suggest that C. Indicum, 
which is a common weed on the hills of South China, has 
a.f>i>iia facia claim to the honor of being the progenitor of 
the brilliant varieties that we now find in such abundant 
diversity. C. Sinense, the garden Chrysanthemum of 
Japan, is cultivated in China, and is supposed by some 
to be of Japanese origin. But there happens to be evidence 
that the Japanese owe their semi-civilization to China; and 
it is probable that the partially improved Chrysanthemum 
was introduced from the -latter country, and being stim- 
ulated by favorable conditions cf climate and high cultiva- 
tion, acquired its distinct characteristics. 

It is difficult to say when the Chrysanthemum was first 
mentioned in Chinese literature. On the authority of l>r. 
II. Trimen we learn that C. Indicum was cultivated in 
Ceylon before 167S, but I have been told that Chinese 
works of a much earlier date refer to the Kuk Fa, or 




7 




Chrysanthemum. Unfortunately the term has recently 
been applied, rather indiscriminately, to such plants as the 
Chinese Aster (Callistephus), the Marigold (Calendula), 
and the double forms of Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) and 
the common European Daisy (Bellis perennis), etc. An 
analysis of the written character occas'onally gives a hint 
as to the origin of a Chinese name, and in this case the 
term Kuk Fa (i), that is, Chrysai.themum Flower, has its 
significance. The character kuk (2), when reduced to its 
elements, is formed from the radicals tso (3) plants, pan 
(4), a bunch, and mai (5), seeds, and the consolidated 
character has a formative in the work kuk (5), a closed 
hand, or to grasp, which has the same verbal sound and is 
formed of the same radicals, with the addition of the 
radical shau (7), a hand. The numbers following the 
Chinese terms refer to the written form of these words here 
reproduced, which will perhaps convey a better understand- 
ing of the writer's idea than any English explanation. 

At this time it seems very p.'obable that the term had 



been chosen en account of the resemblance cf the florets 
of the Chrysanthemum to the fingers of the hand when 
closed inward on the palm. And this is the meaning of 
the word as given me by my Chinese tutor, so that the 
literal translation of Kuk Fa ivould be Closed Hand 
Flower. Now this would suggest the important probability 
that the incurved Chrysanthemum must have been known 
to the Chinese at a period when their written language was 
still in process of development. The word " kuk," to 
incurve the fingers, or to grasp, has every appearance of 
having been formed from the older word " kuk," an 
incurved Chrysanthemum. The sequence of the radical 
formation and identity of the verbal sound and tone marks 
all point to this conclusion. If some Chinese sinologue 
could f;ive the date of the publication in which the term 
" kuk " first appeared, an interesting light might be thrown 
on the antiquity of Chrysanthemum culture in China, as I 
think we may safely assume that the incurved variety!; a 
cultivated form. 




+h 



m t 



Frequent mention is made of the Kuk Fa in Chinese 
poetry and folklore, and Celestial artists of bygone ages 
embellished frescoed walls and screens with pictures of the 
flowers ; and it still ranks with the Pa;ony and the New 
Year Lily (Narcissus Tazetta) as one of the favorite flowers 
of that remarkable race of people. In South China the 
cultivation of the Chrysanthemum is attended with sone 
difficulty, due to the extreme heat and moisture of the sum- 
mer months. It is usually grown in a shady position. The 
soil used is the rich manurial mud which accumulates in a 
shale -like sediment in their rivers and ponds. This is 
broken up into disks about an inch in diameter, after being 
dried in the sun, and is then thrown into the pots without 
creeks or any kind of drainage. But there is little danger 
of water becoming stagnant in the compost, as the disks 
retain their knobby form and thus preserve a free passage 
for both air and water. The hair of pigs is frequently 
mixed with the soil, and this also tends to keep the compost 
open where it might otherwise prove to be too retentive. 



VARIETIES OF THE FUTURE. 



35 



Cuttings are taken with a heel shortly after the plants 
have ceased flowering. Mud of the same character as that 
used in potting is dried, ground down fine, mixed with 
water and kneaded into the form of a paste. A small 
pellet of this, about the size of a marble, is worked around 
the base of each cutting ; and the desired number of 
cuttings having been treated in this way, they are then 
plunged in a pan containing sand. The sand is kept 
moist until the roots of the cuttings begin to show through 
the pellets, when the plants are transferred to their perma- 
nent pots. Four or five cuttings, with the pellets intact, 
are planted in a pot ten or twelve inches in diameter by 
four or five inches deep. The Chinese do not believe 
in shifting their plants a second time Neither do they 
believe in watering them while the sun is shining; they 
water overhead morning and evening. The plants fre- 
quently wilt badly during the day, but recover again at 
night. One would suppose that the constant wilting would 
cause them to lose their lower leaves, but the Chinese 
overcome this in training their plants. 

When the stems are about nine inches high, they are 
bent down horizontally around the pot, two or three inches 
^rom the soil. The tops are then pinched off, and two or 
three laterals from the back nodes are trained up as flower- 
ing stems. It is only the cuttings taken very late in the 
season that are allowed to grow at will and bloom on their 
original points. The Chinese gardeners are well aware of 
the importance of disbudding, when large flowers are re- 
quired ; but they do not practice it to the rigorous extent 
of leaving only one bud on the stem. They are exceed- 
ingly expert in grafting, and often wrork a few different 



varieties on one stock. Their varieties are innumerable. 
The Celestial is quick to detect the slightest variation be- 
tween two plants that we would unhesitatingly class to- 
gether, and he immediately dubs the aberrant freak with a 
glorified name. Some of these names prove that the 
Celestial fa wong (gardener) is a person of poetic imagina- 
tion. Refulgent Loveliness, Emblem of Felicity, Sur- 
passing Eminence, Golden Kapture, Heavenly Purity, and 
so on, are a few that I have translated from the written 
characters. A large number of varie'ies of foreign origin 
are now found in the treaty ports of China and other places 
frequented by foreigners, and it is therefore difficult to say 
what is of purely Chinese origia. Horticulture is cow at 
a standstill in China. Very few novelties are raised by 
artificial crossing, though at one time this branch of gar- 
dening must have received considerable attention. The 
Chinese now live in the delusion that horticulture, like 
many other arts and accomplishments, reached perfection 
many centuries ago, and to venerate the old and despise 
the new has been the creed of China from times immemo- 
rial. As a race they have all the painstaking qualities 
that are so essential in gardening ; and should the rude 
awakening which Japan has recently administered to the 
Celestial kingdom have permanent effect, she may rise 
again on the wave of progress, and assuredly horticulture 
will then advance with rapid strides. I am doubtful if the 
natives of any other country have such a wealth of raw 
material, and the peculiar qualities for turning it to account, 
as have the inhabitants of this interesting part of the world. 

—A. B. Westland. 

Saiita Barbara, Cal. 



VARIETIES OF THE FUTURE. 



A GREAT advance has been made in the Chrysan- 
themum during the past ten years, in the size and 
form as well as in the color of the flowers, and 
this leads one to contemplate as to where we shall end. 
Grand as are many of the varieties, the ideal is not yet 
reached, at any rate not in all the classes. So far as mere 
size is concerned, we have attained all that possibly can be 
desired. Anything larger than many of the varieties now 
cultivated would be simply a monstrosity ; and it certainly 
would exceed the boundary line of good taste, so that we 
may well dismiss the quality of size as having reached a 
satisfactory limit. We may yet make good progress in the 
form and color of the flowers; also in the habit of the 
plant. And, of course, growers will differ in opinion as to 
what constitutes perfection in each and every attribute ; 
and so long as we have exhibition growers, commercial 
growers, and those who cultivate the plants out of pure 
regard for them, so long will variation in the plants and 
flowers continue to be sought after. 

So it follows that we must have many types of perfect 
form. For a bloom of medium size, I consider Ivory one 



of our best finished varieties, and Major Bonnaffon is 
perhaps without an equal of its type. But who can say 
that Niveus is not also a perfect flower, although totally 
distinct from either of the foregoing? The shape of that 
grand old variety, W. H. Lincoln, is considered very fine 
by some ; but to my mind it is rather stiff and formal. 
Mrs. Wm. H. Rand is another type quite the opposite df 
Major Bonnaffon, yet what lover of Chrysanthemums would 
care to be without it ? Many varieties of different character 
are similarly complete. But some are faulty in other par- 
ticulars ; and thus, perhaps, it would be most accurate to 
say that there are flowers which it would be impossible to 
change in form with advantage ; but when the form and 
color of the flowers are considered in connection with the 
habit of the plants, there is yet considerable room for im- 
provement. 

The matter of color merits a great deal of attention on 
the part of those who are making an earnest study of the 
work of producing new varieties. We have whites in 
abundance, from the purest shade to the greenish tone of 
Miss Minnie Wanamaker, and on to the c:eamy color of 



36 



CJ^Oll'N BUDS AND TERMINALS. 



Mayflower ; there are yellows of all intermediate shades 
between the rich orange of Eugene Dailledouze and the 
pale straw tint of Sayonara ; but in pinks and crimsons 
there is a large field for endeavor. The pure pink has \'et 
to come, and I am of the opinion that we shall have it in 
less than three years. We need a pink of the shade of a 
good Grace Wilder Carnation, and a large flower of the 
matchless color of Cullingfordii would be very desirable. 
I feel quite safe in predicting that we shall produce good 
pink and crimson varieties, v ith flowers of a size and form 
to satisfy the keenest critic, and in addiuon to these, there 
are doubtless many pleasant surprises in store for us in the 
years to come. The Chrysanthemum of the future will 
possess individually a greater aggregation of good qualities 
than most of our best varieties do now. They will be of 



dwarf habit, or moderately so, with stout stems, and heavy, 
lu.\uriant foliage, and the bare stem and weak neck will 
gradually disappear. At the present time there are few 
white varieties of better habit than Mrs, Bullock; and for a 
yellow, in stem and foliagCi W. H. Lincoln is unsurpassed; 
while Niveus, although rather tall, has a grand stem, with 
its beautiful leaves clear to the base of the flower. Maud 
Uean, for stem, foliage and flower, comes pretty close to 
the ideal pink. Whether the Chrysanthemum will ever 
attain to the dignity of what may be justly considered a 
fragrance, is a question on which I cannot pass an opinion. 
I believe the advance made in this direction so trifling, if 
any, that it gives us little hope for the future. 

— Wm. Scott. 

Buffalo, X. r. 



CROWN BUDS AND TERMINALS. 



I THINK one may safely say that a crown bud is an 
abortion, and if the plant were left to its own way 
such buds would never develop. Terminals in the 
large majority of cases produce the best blossoms, and they 
are typical of the variety at all times. 

—James Brydon. 
Yarnioiithport, Mass. 

BOTH USEFUL. 
There is a great difference in the growth of varieties, as 
all who are at all familiar with the plants well know. I am 
fully cognizant of the fact that many good growers claim 
the habit of growth has little or no effect on the quality of 
the flow?rs, but my e.xperience has proved the opposite be- 
yond a doubt. The short-jointed varieties produce the best 
flowers from crown buds, and terminals develop the most 
satisfactory blooms on those with lengthy internodes. But 
it is advantageous to select the terminals in the latter case 
for an additional reason. The stems of flowers produced 
from crown buds are nearly always destitute of foliage in 
a considerable space at the top, and as will be obvious, this 
would be greatest in the long-jointed varieties. These 
peculiarities always guide me in the selection of the buds, 
and I have found that the plan works well, 

— John Dyer. 
Snort mils. A'. J. 

GENERAL PRLNCIPLES, 

Were one to do full justice to this subject, he would 
require a thorough knowledge of each variety — just think 
once what that means — and I do not feel equal to the task. 
One can furnish general principles, however, if not all the 
details. In the first place, there are some special rules to 
be observed. With the early sorts a crown bud produces a 
bloom about ten days in advance of the terminal, and this 
in itself is an important item. Yellow Queen and Mrs. E. 
G. Hill illustrate the point in question. 

Crown buds in general are preferable for e.xhibition flow- 
ers, especially when they are shown on boards, as was for- 



meiiy the practice. Foliage and stem not being taken into 
account, the blooms from crown buds average larger, fuller, 
clearer tone of color, and have more substance than the 
terminals. Golden Hair from the crown bud is a rich 
chrome yellow, and shows little suggestion of an eye ; but 
the terminal is of a decided bronze shade with a quite open 
center. White Boehmer, or L'Enfant des Deu.x Mondes, 
shows but little center in the crown bud. Varieties that 
are inclined to produce weak, crooked stems to terminals 
are comparatively straight and stiflE under crowns, as we find 
in E iward Hatch, Princess of Chrysanthemums and Col. 
W, B. Smith. Select crown buds and these varieties are 
strong and shapely enough for any purpose. Hicks Arnold 
and Golden Gate improve in color tone with similar treat- 
ment. A crown bud of Waban, well done, is one of the 
largest and most perfect exhibition blooms to date. As a 
terminal it may be of large diameter, but is generally flimsy 
in texture and weak in color. This is also true of such 
bronzes as Comte de Germiny, G F. Moseman, Crown 
Prince and the like. 

Almost all dwarf habited Chrysanthemums give the best 
results from crown buds. The opposite is the general rule 
with regard to the latest varieties; and as I prefer crown 
buds for the earliest blooms, so I choose terminals for the 
latter. For mid-season commercial use the terminals are 
rather to be preferred, on account of their shorter neck and 
neater foliage. But I maintain that a better show can be 
secured from crown buds when the blooms are desired for 
exhibition purposes only. Judged from the artistic stand- 
point, there is not the all around finish — stem, foliage and 
flower — in the crown bud that there is in the terminal, 
hence the latter has more general utility and gives greater 
satisfaction commercially as a cut flower. 

These simple remarks cover the ground as to general 
principles, still, of course, there are exceptions, and e.xcep- 
tions. As I have often stated, to grow a given Chrysan- 
themum well, one needs to know its own separate individu- 



Hl^^v 






E. A WOOD, Phesident. 



E. Q. HILL, Vice-President. 





J. N. MAY, Theasurer. 



E. D. SMITH, Secretary 



OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY, 



See "Men of Note." 



THE BEST VARIETIES. 



37 



ality. Treatment that will suit one variety is no safe rule 
for another. It is useless to expect many crown buds from 
late struclj cuttings. Naturally these produce mostly ter- 
minals, and it is the early propagated stock that is prolific 
in crowns. The English experts invariably allow their 
plants a long season of growth, and it is for this reason 
that their writings abound with references to the crowns. 
And these growers obtain magnificent blooms in this way, 
but the plants that produce them are exceedingly lanky — 



almost as tall as Jack's famous bean stalk. I have observed 
that the new growth about the crown bud develops a plant 
that blooms earlier and one of more compact habit than the 
ordinary soft-struck cutting. Although crown buds are 
developed first, yet they require a longer time to mature 
ordinarily than terminals, thus it follows that early varieties 
must be started earlier than the general stock to secure the 
best results. — Qrove P. Rawson. 

Elmira, N. Y. 



THE BEST VARIETIES. 



A JUDICIOUS selection of varieties is of as great 
importance as any other matter connected with 
Chrysanthemum culture. Much time and labor 
must be lost before one can gain an accurate knowledge of 
the most suitable kinds for specific purposes and localities, 
and it is with a view to lessening this expense of time, 
labor and money that the following lists have been 
prepared. These selections are made by people who from 
long experience and observation are most competent to 
give a correct estimate of the value of any variety, and all 
the more important Chrysanthemum centers of the country 
are represented in the reports. The best ten varieties for 
making good plants, and an equal number of those that 
have proved most reliable in the production of blooms for 
cutting, are given in each case. An audit of these returns, 
therefore, affords the safest means of arriving at a correct 
conclusion as to the varieties of the greatest general utility. 

Baltimore, M.Ci..— Plants— G. W. Childs, Ivory, Mrs. 
J. G. Whilldiu, Eda Prass, Tuxedo, Miss M. Wanamaker, 
Cullingfordii, W. H. Lincoln, Mrs. Wm. Bowen, Ada 
Spaulding. Blooms — Ivory, Niveus, The Queen, Viviand 
Morel, Eugene Dailledouze, Golden Wedding, Ermenilda, 
G. W. Childs, Mrs. E. G. Hill, Col. W. B. Smith.— 
Edwin A . Seidewi/::. 

Boston, Mass.— /"/(r^/j— Major Bonnaffon, G. W. 
Childs, Ivory, Louis Boehmer, President Hyde, W. H. 
Lincoln, J. C. Vaughan, M. Boyer, Primula, Ernst 
Asmus. Blooms — Major Bonnaffon, Eugene Dailledouze, 
Mrs. Jerome Jones, Marguerite Jeffords, Niveus, Robt. 
Mclnnes, The Queen, Golden Gate, Viviand Morel, C. B. 
Whitnall. — Art Inn- H. Fetvkes. 

Buffalo, N. \ .—Plants— \yox^ , Mrs. W. K. Vander- 
bilt, L. Canning, Mrs. J. G. Whilldin, W. H. Lincoln, 
Hicks Arnold, Etoile de Lyon, Maud Dean, L. Boehmer, 
Cullingfordii. Blooms — Ivory, Niveus, The Queen, Mrs. 
R. Craig, Viviand Morel, Maud Dean, Mrs. A. J. Drexel, 
Yellow Queen, Mrs. C. Lippincott, W. H. Lincoln. — 
Wm. Scott. 

Burlington, Vt. — Plants — Ivory, Eda Prass, Culling- 
fordii, W. H. Lincoln, Jos. H. White, Clinton Chalfant, 
Miss Minnie Wanamaker, Louis Boehmer, President Hyde. 
Domination. Blooms — Ivory, Mrs. H. Cannell, Kioto, 
Mrs. J. G. Whilldin, Miss M. Wanamaker, Niveus, W. H. 



Lincoln, Maud Dean, Harry Balsley, Mrs. C. Lippincott. 
— W. A. Lee. 

Chattanooga, Tenn. — Plants — Ivory, Gloriosum, 
Eda Prass, Jessica, Lilian B. Bird, Mattie Bruce, Good 
Gracious, Golden Wedding, Viviand Morel, W. H. Lin- 
coln. Blooms — The Queen, Kioto, Good Gracious, Viviand 
Morel, Waban, Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs. Harrison, Ada 
Spaulding, Ed. Hatch, E. G. YiXW.—Elhabeth Fry. 

Chicago, 111. — Plants — Niveus, The Queen, Eugene 
Dailledouze, Major Bonnaffon, W. H. Lincoln, Viviand 
Morel, Col. W. B. Smith, Harry Balsley, G. W. Childs, 
Maud Dean. Blooms — Lady Playfair, Viviand Morel, 
Eugene Dailledouze, Major Bonnaffon, The Queen, Harry 
Balsley, Mutual Friend, Mrs. A. J. Dre.xel, Col. W. B. 
Smith, Wm. Seward. — John Thorpe. 

Cincinnati, O.— Plants— l\o\y. G. W. Childs, H. L. 
Sunderbruch, W. H. Lincoln, Domination, Princess Beat- 
rice, Hicks Arnold, Viviand Morel, Ada Spaulding, Mutual 
Friend. Blooms — Challenge, Ada Spaulding, Viviand 
Morel, Eugene Dailledouze, The Queen, President W. R. 
Smith, G. W. Childs, H. L. Sunderbruch, Miss Minnie 
Wanamaker, Ivory. — H. L. Sunderbruch. 

Denver, Colo. — The following lists were prepared by 
the leading growers of Denver, and forwarded through the 
courtesy of Mr. E. A. Wood, Plants — W. H. Lincoln. 
G. W. Childs, Niveus, Miss M. Clarke, Hicks Arnold, E. 
G. Hill, Viviand Morel, Lady Trevor Lawrence, Louis 
Boehmer, L. Canning. Blooms — Niveus, Mrs. Jerome 
Jones, Eugene Dailledouze, Golden Wedding, Major Bon- 
naffon, Viviand Morel, President W. R. Smith, Harry 
Bals!ey, Robt. Mclnnes, G. W. Childs. — Denver Growers, 

Detroit, ^Vl\%.— Plants — Ivory, Miss Minnie V\'ana- 
maker, L'Enfant des Deux Mondes, W. H. Lincoln, Clin- 
ton Chalfant, Golden Hair, Improved Louis Boehmer, Eda 
Prass, G. W. Childs, Portia. Blooms — Ivory, The Queen, 
Niveus, Mrs. Jerome Jones, Mrs. E. G. Hill, Harry Bals- 
ley. Ermenilda, Marion Henderson, Eugene Dailledouze, 
W. H. Lincoln. — Elmer D. Stnith, 

Hartford, Conn.— /'/</«/j-— Hicks Arnold, Golden 
Gate, Mrs. John H Starin, Ivory, Good Gracious, Mrs. 
Jas. B. Crane, W. II. Lincoln, Pitcher & Manda, G. W. 
Childs, Cullingfordii. Blooms — Niveus, Ivory, Jessica, 
Golden Wedding, Eugene Dailledouze, Viviand JNIorel, 



38 



THE BEST VARIETIES. 



Maud Dean, Cullingfordii, G. W. Childs, Hicks Arnold.— 
John Dallas. 

Indianapolis, \nCi. — Plants — Domination, Jos. H. 
Wtiite, Ivory, L. Canning, Major Bonnaffon, W. H. Lin- 
coln, Hicks Arnold Falstaff, Eda Prass, G. W. Childs. 
Blooms — Niveus, The Queen, Mrs. Potter Palmer, Eugene 
Dailledouze Major Bonnaffon, Golden Wedding, H. L. 
Sunderbruch, Mrs. E. G. Hill, Viviand Morel, G. W. 
Childs. — Win. G. Bcrtcrmann. 

Louisville, Ky. — Plants — Mrs. \V. F. Norton, Jos. 
H. White, Eda Prass, Good Gracious, G. W. Childs, Clin- 
ton Chalfant, H. L. Sunderbruch, Major Bonnaffon, Kioto, 
Jessica. Blooms — Marie Louise, The Queen, Niveus, 
Mrs. E. G. Hill, Lady Playfair, President W. R. Smith, 
Yellow Queen, Golden Wedding, Major Bonnaffon, Apollo. 
Henry Nan'. 

Milwaukee, Wis. — P/an/s — Ivory, Gloriosum, Jos. 
H. White, Cullingfordii, Major Bonnaffon, The Queen, 
Jessica, L. Canning, Louis Boehmer, Viviand Morel. 
Blooms — Niveus, Eugene Dailledouze, President W. R. 
Smith, Ed. Hatch, Harry May, Miss Minnie Wanamaker, 
Domination, W. H. Lincoln, The Queen, Viviand Morel. 
folin M. Diinlop. 

Mobile, K\^.— Plants— G. W. Childs, L. Canning, 
Eda Prass, Mermaid, Mary Wheeler, Miss Kate Brown, 
Mrs. E. W. Clark, Century, L' Enfant des Deu.x Mondes, 
C. B. Whitnall. Blooms — Eugene Dailledouze, Golden 
Wedding, Niveus, The Queen, President W. R. Smith, Dr. 
Callandreau, Mrs. A. J. Drexel, Mrs. A. Carnegie, V, H. 
Hallock, Lady Trevor Lawrence. — Maria Minge. 

Montreal, Can. — Plants — Ivory, L. Canning, Domi- 
nation, W. II. Lincoln, Tokio, Duchess, Mdme. E. Fabre, 
Golden Rod, G. W. Childs, Hicks Arnold. Blooms— "^\ie. 
Queen, Niveus, Golden Wedding, Viviand Morel, W. H. 
Lincoln, Mrs. Geo. West, Domination, Mrs. F. L. Ames, 
E. G. Hill, Harry Ma.y.^James McKenna. 

Newport, R. I. — Plants — A. G. Ramsay, Harry May, 
Marie Louise, Niveus, Jos. H. White, Viviand Morel, Ed. 
Hatch, Goliath, Major Bonnaffon, Minerva. Blooms — 
Eugene Dailledouze, Golden Wedding, Niveus, H. L. Sun- 
derbruch, Viviand Morel, Frank Thomson, Viscountess 
Hambledon, G. W. Childs, Harry Balsley, Mrs. Jerome 
Jones. — A kxander MacLMati. 

New York, N. Y. — /"/aBir— Viviand Morel, Maud 
Dean, Ivory, The Queen, L. Canning, W. H. Lincoln, 
Minerva, G. W. Childs, Hicks Arnold, Inter Ocean. 
Blooms — Eugene Dailledouze, Major Bonnaffon, W. H. 
Lincoln, Niveus, Mrs. Jerome Jones, Viviand Morel, Maud 
Dean, Ada H. LeRoy, G. W. Childs, Mrs. A. J. Drexel.— 
Eugene Dailledouze. 

Philadelphia, Va..— Plants— Itox-y , Miss Minnie Wan- 
amaker, W. H. Lincoln, Domination, Major Bonnaffon, 
G. W. Childs, Cullingfordii, Source d'Or, Eda Prass, 
Ermenilda. Blooms — Viviand Morel, Niveus, Miss Minnie 
Wanamaker, Mayflower, Eugene Dailledouze, Major Bon- 
naffon, G. W. Childs, Maud Dean, Col. W. B. Smith, 
The Queen. — Edwin Lonsdale. 

Portland, Me. — /'/fl«<j— Cullingfordii, Tuxedo, Dom- 



ination, Ivory, W. H. Lincoln, President Hyde, Mrs. 
Humphreys, Viviand Morel, Elaine, Niveus. Blooms — 
G. W. Childs, W. H. Lincoln, Kioto, Golden Wedding, 
President W. R. Smith, Niveus, Ivory, Domination, Cul- 
lingfordii, Miss Minnie Wanamaker. — Alexander Wallace. 

San Francisco, Cal. — Plants — The Queen, Golden 
Gate, Niveus, Liolden Wedding, Mrs. J. Geo. lis, Eugene 
Dailledouze, Viviand Morel, Charles Davis, Mrs. E. D. 
Adams, Waban. Blooms — Emma Hitzeroth, II. Cannell, 
Good Gracious, The Queen, Florence Davis, Challenge, 
Major Bonnaffon, W. N. Rudd, W. H. Lincoln, Morning 
Mist. — Imogene E. Johnson. 

St. Louis, ^O,— Plants — John Lane, L. Canning, 
Ivory, Harry May, MissM. Wanamaker, Major Bonnaffon, 
Louis Boehmer, W. H. Lincoln, Mrs. J. G. Whilldin, 
Miss Kate Brown. Blooms — W. G. Newitt, Major Bon- 
naffon, Viviand Morel, The Queen, Pitcher & Manda, H. 
L. Sunderbruch, Golden Wedding, President W. R. Smith, 
Harry Bakley, Mrs. C. Lippincott. — Emil Sehray. 

Toronto, Can. — Plants— Ivory, W. H. Lincoln, Pres- 
ident W. R. Smith, Domination, Lilian B. Bird, G W. 
Childs, Ada Spaulding, Miss M. Wanamaker, Hicks Ar- 
nold, Puritan, Blooms — Niveus, Mrs. James Eadie, Gol- 
den Wedding, Viviand Morel, Maud Dean, The Queen, 
L'Enfanl des Deux Mondes, Harry May, Major Bonnaffon, 
Eugene Dailledouze. — A. H. Ewing. 

Washington, D. C— /'/a«/.f— The Queen, Marie 
Louise, Ivory, Eugene Dailledouze, Golden Gate, Hicks 
Arnold, Mrs. E. G. Hill, Viviand Morel, G. W. Childs, 
Anna Woods. Blooms — Niveus, Golden Wedding, Yellow 
Queen, Dr. Jules Callendreau, President W. R. Smith, 
The Queen, Mrs. E. G. Hill, Viviand Morel, G. W. 
Childs, Mrs. Bayard Cutting. — Philip Gauges. 

Name. Plants. Votes. 

Ivory -- '7 

W. H. Lincoln 17 

G. W. Childs 15 

Viviand Morel 10 

Hicks Arnold 9 

Eda Prass 8 

L. Canning-- 8 

Major Bonnaffon 8 

Cullingfordii 7 

Domination 7 

Louis Boehmer -- -- 6 

Miss Minnie Wanamaker 6 

Joseph H.White 5 

Niveus - 5 

The Queen — 5 

Ada Spaulding 3 

Clinton Chalfant 3 

Eugene Dailledouze 3 

Golden Gate j --- 3 

Good Gracious 3 

Jessica . 3 

Maud Dean 3 

Mrs. J. G. Whilldin 3 

President Hyde_ - 3 



THE BEST VARIETIES. 



39 



Name. 

Gloriosum _ 

Golden Wedding 

Harry May 

L'Enfant des Deux Mondes. 

Lilian B. Bird 

Marie Louise 

Minerva 

Miss Kate Brown 

H. L. Sunderbruch 

Tuxedo 

A. G. Ramsay. 

Anna Woods 

C. B. Whitnall 

Century 

Charles Davis 

Col. W. B. Smith 

Duchess 

Ed. Hatch 

E, G. Hill 

Elaine 



Volcx 



Name. 
Source d'Or. 
Tokio 



Votes. 



Ermenilda 

Ernst Asmus 

Etoile de Lyon 

Falstaff 

Golden Hair 

Golden Rod 

Goliath 

Harry Balsley 

Improved Louis Boehmer. 

Inter Ocean 

J. C. Vaughan 

John Lane 

Kioto 

Lady Trevor Lawrence 

Mary Wheeler ■ 

Mattie Bruce _ _ 

M. Boyer 

Mdme. E. Fabre l... 

Mermaid 

Miss M. Ciarke 

Mrs. E. D. Adams 

Mrs. E. G. Hill ___ 

Mrs. E. W. Clark _ 

Mrs. Humphreys 

Mrs. James B. Crane 

Mrs. J. Geo. lis 

Mrs. John H. Starin 

Mrs. W. F. Norton 

Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt-- 

Mrs. Wm. Bowen 

Mutual Friend 

Pitcher & Manda 

Portia .- 

PresidentW. R. Smith... 

Primula 

Princess Beatrice 

Puritan 



I 

2 lokjo I 

2 Waban i 

2 Flowers. 

2 Niveus 1 8 

2 The Queen.. .-_ - 17 

2 Viviand Morel. 17 

2 Eugene Dailledouze 14. 

2 Golden Wedding. 12 

2 G. W. Childs -. 10 

Major Bonnaffon 10 

President W. R. Smith S 

W. H. Lincoln. S 

Ivory 7 

Harry Balsley 

Maud Dean - 

Miss Minnie Wanamaker 

Mrs. E. G. Hill. 



6 

6 

5 

5 

Mrs. Jerome Jones 5 

H. L. Sunderbruch 4 

Mrs. A. J. Dre.xel. 4 

Col. W. B. Smith. 3 

Domination 3 

Harry May .. . 3 

Kioto 3 

Mrs. C. Lippincott 3 

Yellow Queen - 3. 

Ada Spaulding 2 

Challenge 2 

CuUingfordii 2 

Dr. J. Callendreau 2 

Ed. Hatch 2 

E.G. Hill 2^ 

Ermenilda 2 

Good Gracious 2 

Lady Playfair 2 

Robt. Mclnnes 2 

Ada H. LeRoy 

Apollo 



Emma Hitzeroth 

C. B. Whitnall 

Florence Davis 

Frank Thomson 

Golden Gate 

H. Cannell 

Hicks Arnold 

Jessica .. — 

Lady Trevor Lawrence 

L'Enfant des deux Mondes. 

Marie Louise 

Marion Henderson 

Marguerite Jeffords 

Mayflower.- 

Morning Mist 

Mrs. A. Carnegie 

Mrs. Bayard Cutting. 

Mrs. Cleveland 



4° 



PROGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND. 



A'ame. Vote. 

Mrs. F. L. Ames 

Mrs. Geo. West 

Mrs. Harrison- - 

Mrs. H. Cannell -- 

Mrs. Jas. Eadie... — 

Mrs. j. G. Whilldin --- 

Mrs. Potter Pa.mer - 

Mrs. R. Craig - -- 

Mutual Friend 

Pitcher & Manda 

V. H. Hallock - 

Viscountess Hambledon 

Waban - - -- - 

W. G. Nevvitt -- - 

\Vm. Seward-- 

W. N. Rudd - 



These analyses shoiv that American varieties lead as 
plants and for cut flowers. Ivory (white) and W. H. Lin- 
coln (yellow) are equally good as plants. The latter is an 
American importation from Japan, while Ivory was raised 
by Wm. K. Harris, the veteran grower of Philadelphia 
The best crimson for plants, and likewise for blooms, is 
John Thorpe's G. W. Childs. The best pink for both 
purposes, if the rosy tint of the flower may be so designated, 
is the European Viviand Morel, and Hicks Arnold, one of 
Pitcher & Manda's varieties, leads the bronzes as a plant 
The peerless Niveus (white) of Smith & Son is given the 
position of honor as a cut flower, closely followed by The 
llueen, Fred S. Walz's grand variety of the same color. 
Hill's magnificent Eugene Dailledouze is considered the 
best yellow for cut blooms, and Henderson's imported 
Golden Wedding has many admirers. 

— M. B. 



PROGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND. 



LITTLE more than fifty years have elapsed since 
there was anything like a general settlement of this 
country, and the most progressive nations fail to 
make any large amount of progress, even under the most 
favorable circumstances, in so short a period. But a great 
deal can be done with a fertile soil in a temperate climate, 
and the early colonists soon learned to turn these to advan- 
tage. The love of gardening, however, is so strong in the 
English speaking races that I feel almost certain it would 
assert itself in a desert. These people, indeed, on your 
own continent, as well as in most other parts of the world, 
have made many wildernesses bloom as veritable gardens. 
It is not strange, therefore, befriended as we are with all 
that is essential to the accomplishment of good work, to 
find that we have advanced in horticulture at a very rapid 
pace. And horticulture never yet flourished long without 
her sister art of floriculture. 

Thus among other flowers we soon learned to appreciate 
Chiysanthemums, and to grow them. Very soon after the 
Japanese varieties had become popular in Europe, we also 
took a fancy to them, and they soon became prime favor- 
ites throughout the land. The enthusiasm grew until we 
had to have an exhibition. It was, to be sure, only a very 
small affair ; but then, it was a beginning. All things 
must have a beginning. In the light of later events, it is 
difficult to call this initial attempt an exhibition ; but such 
it was, and a special Chrysanthemum show at that. It was 
held on May 7, 1S72, and the exhibits consisted of two 



stands of eighteen blooms each. Auckland, Napier, Wel- 
lington, Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru and Dunedin are 
all famous for their Chrysanthemums, and there is much 
encouraging work going on in smaller centers. The last 
exhibition, held under the auspices of the Christchurch 
Horticultural Society, would have been a very grand affair 
had not a great many of the exhibits suffered rather severely 
from a prolonged period of wet weather. But even as it 
was, there were many fine blooms of the popular varieties. 
Some varieties recently imported from England and Amer- 
ica received a large share of attention. Among others I 
noticed as being particularly good, Viviand Morel, Wm. 
Tricker. Alberic Lunden, W. W. Coles, R. C. Kingston, 
Louis Boehmer, Lil'an B. Bird, C. E. Shea, Etoile de 
Lyon, W. H. Lincoln, Mdme. Baco, Eynsford White, 
Miss Annie Hartshorn and Avalanche. The growers of 
exhibition blooms have pretty generally adopted the Moly- 
neux course of culture, and good decorative specimens of 
dwarf habit are obtained by cutting down the plants to 
within six inches of the soil about mid-summer. There are 
several parties interested in the production of seedlings in 
various parts of the country, but I have had no recent 
reports of their work. Two of my own seedlings are very 
promising. One of these, which I have named Rosy 
Morn, has florets curled and interlaced in the form of a 
ball. The other resembles Edwin Molyneux a good deal, 
the center very full —John Dutton. 

Chriskhurch, A^eiu Zealand, 




PHILADELPHIA. 



NATURAL SIZE. 



AMERICAN VARIETIES OF 1S95. 



IT is possible there are some new varieties of American 
origin wiiich are not named in tiiis list ; but while no 
effort has been spared to make it complete and reliable, 
the compiler will be glad to have particulars of others which 
should find a place here: — 

Autumn Leaves (S/'mi/Jing).— Stem strong and erect. 
Flower large and full. Florets straight and spreading ; 
broad ; heavy substance ; creamy white, mottled red and 
tipped light yellow. 

Brigand (5/i7«/<;V«^). — Stem dwarf, straight and strong. 
Flower large and full. Florets somewhat refle.xed ; deep 
crimson in color. 

Bronze Qiant {Sj>atMiug).— Sttm robust and erect. 
Flower very large and full. Florets incurved ; broad ; firm 
of texture ; yellow, shaded red. 

Burt Eddy ( Vangkan). — Stem stout and erect. Flower 
very large and full. Florets reflexed ; the dull purple color 
is poor. 

Camille d'Arville (Spauldingj.—Stexu stout and erect. 
Flower of medium size ; very full, and of good form. 
Florets straight ; strong in texture ; white, tinged salmon. 

Chipeta {Smith &= Son). — Stem four and a half feet 
high, strong and erect. Flower very large and full. Florets 
well incurved ; color light bronze. 

Crystalina ( Vau^haii). — Stem stout and erect. Flower 
medium size, full. Florets narrow ; medium in substance, 
and of pure white color. 

Dean Hole (yl/av).— Stem three and a half feet high, 
strong and erect. Flower very large ; full and of good 
form. Florets incurved ; broad ; pale pink. 

\y\a.\o\z.(SpauIdiiig). — A variety with very large flowers. 
Florets spreading ; colorcreamy white, marked and shaded 
with red and yellow. 

Dr. W. A. Wakeley {SpauldingX—SK.em stout and 
erect. Flower large, full and globular. Florets incurved; 
broad; heavy substance; light bronze. 

Edith Smith {Spanldiug). — Stem dwarf and of good 
strength. Flower large and full. Florets refle.xed, those 
in the center incurved ; broad ; pure white. 

E. M. Bigelow (Dorner &= Sivi). — Stem straight and 
strong. Flower of large size; very full. Florets regularly 
incurved, and of a deep reddish-crimson shade. 

Emma N. Crosby (Spaulding). — Stem dwarf and 
solid. Flower medium size, full and of good form. 
Florets incurved, the lower ones reflexed; color rich yellow. 

Esther Heacock (5/><7Z(/(/!Ko-). — A yellow sport from 
Ada Spaulding, with the characteristics and excellent 
qualities of that variety. 

Experiment {Spaulding). Sttxa. of medium height, 
strong and erect. Flower medium size ; full. Florets 
spreading and twisted; color soft pink. 

Ezeta {Smith i5r Son). — Stem four feet high, quite 
strong. Flower medium size, full and of good form. 
Florets spreading ; firm in texture; bright yellow. See plate. 



F. L. Atkins {Pitclui- S^ Mandu).— Stem strong and 
erect. Flower large and full. Florets reflexed; very 
long; broad; silvery-white in color. 

Fred Walz {/Sock). — Stems stout and erect, about 
three feet in height. Flower medium size; very full and 
of good form. Florets partially incurved; color pale pink. 

Qold Dust {Uill 07^ Co.). —Stem three and a half feet 
high, strong and erect. Flower medium size; very full. 
Florets incurved ; golden yellow. 

Hallowe'en {Hill &• Co.).—Stem four feet high, vigor- 
ous and erect. Flower very large, full and deep. Florets 
incurved; broad; strong in substance; color dull pink. 

Helen BloodgOOd {Spu aiding). — Stem strong and 
erect. Flowers very large; full; perfect in form. Florets 
incurved; firm in texture; color pink. 

H. W. Rieman (///// &= Co.). — Stem four feet high, 
stout and erect. Flowers large and full; golden yellow. 
A cross between Wm. H. Lincoln and Mrs. L. C. Madeira. 

Jayne ( Vonglinn). — Stem strong and well furnished 
with foliage. Flowers high and full, with broad, incurved 
florets; color deep pink. 

J. E. Lager {Pitcher &^ Mandii) —Flowers of medium 
size; full and of good form. Florets reflexed; medium in 
width; color bright yellow, 

Jennie Falconer {Spaulding). — Stem dwarf, strong 
and erect. Flower large; full; very attractive. Florets 
well incurved; broad; color bright yellow. 

J. H. Troy {Pitcher d~ Jllanda). — Flower very large 
and full. Florets spreading; broad; heavy in substance; 
color pure white. Very early. See plate. 

Latest Fad {Spaulding). — Stem strong and erect. 
Flower very large and full. Florets reflexed; very long; 
broad,- rich yellow in color, with crimson and bronze 
variegations. See plate. 

Lottie Alter {Spaulding). — A large bloom of good 
quality. Florets incurved; firm in texture; color pure white. 

Marie Valleau {Spaulding). — Stem strong and erect. 
Flower large, full and of good form. Florets incurved ; 
broad; heavy in texture; soft pink. 

Marion Abbott {Spaulding). — Stem rather weak. 
Flower large and full; graceful in form. Florets well 
incurved; medium width and te.xture; pale pink. 

Maud D. Reynolds {Spaulding). — A good large 
flower. Florets informally incurved, the lower ones 
reflexed; strong in substance; bright yellow. 

Millbrook {Domer if Son). — Stem about three feet in 
height, s.out and erect. Flower very large and decorative. 
Florets long and drooping; light bronze. 

Miss Elma O'Farrell {Domer !^ Son). — Stem four 
feet high, straight and strong. Flower large and full. 
Florets reflexed, and of bright reddish color. 

Miss Qeorgiana Pitcher {Pitcher &^ Manda). — Stem 
dwarf, stout and erect. Flower of medium size; very ftUl. 
Florets incurved; strong in texture; bright yellow. 



42 



AMERICAN VARIETIES OF 1895. 



Miss Oeorgie Crompton (Spaulding).—'Ssia\\ strong 
and erect. Flower large and full. Florets incurved; 
broad; deep yellow. 

Miss Gladys 5paulding (Spaulding).—'Si\.^m. stout 
and erect. Flower very large and full. Florets incurved, 
excellent in texture; pure white color. 

Miss Louise D. Black {Hill &= Co.).— Stem about 
four feet high, strong and erect. Flower large, very deep 
and full. Florets incurved, and of reddish-orange color. 

Miss M. M. Johnson {Hill &= Co.') —Stem three feet 
high, erect. Flower medium size; full and graceful; 
florets medium width; irregularly incurved; deep yellow. 
See plate. 

Mrs.Chas. Woolsey \Hauh-rso)i irCoX—kn irregular 
spreading flower of good decorative character; very early; 
pure white. 

Mrs. Henry Robinson {.Pitcher h= JMamia). — Stem 
good. Flower large, full and e.xceptionally fine in form. 
Florets incurved ; white. 

Mrs. iliginbotham (Spauldins;) —Stem strong and 
erect. Flower very large ; full and graceful. Florets 
irregularly incurved ; broad ; hairy ; bright pink. 

Mrs. H. L. Roniig(G'ra/i(;7;/).— Stout stem about four 
feet high. Flower medium size, very full. Florets incurved; 
creamy while. 

Mrs. H. W. Emerson (Domcr &= 5w/).— Dwarf 
stem, stout and erect. Flo .ver very large and full. Florets 
extra wide ; refle.Ked irregularly ; bright yellow. 

Mrs. J. H. White (.S/><7«/a'/«_o-) —Stem dwarf, strong 
and erect. Flower large and full. Florets reflexed ; 
medium in texture ; color deep crimson. 

Mrs. MosesJ.Wentworth( Vaughan). — Stem strong 
and straight. Flower large and full. Florets irregularly 
incurved ; weak in te.xture ; deep yellow. 

Mrs. M. R. Parker, Jr. (Spaulding).—'SAem dwarf, 
strong and erect. Flower large and full. Florets incurved; 
broad ; firm in substance ; deep pink, reverse of lighter 
shade. 

Mrs. S. T. Murdock (Damn- &^ Son). — Stem from 
three to four feet high, strong and erect. Flower of good 
size and substance ; color pale rose. 

Mrs. T. E. Weidersheim (Graham). — An early 
variety of dwarf growth. Flower of medium size ; fine 
form ; light pink color. 

Mrs. Wm. H. Hurley (Graham). — Dwarf habit and 
stiff stem. Flower large and loose ; florets reflexed, and of 
deep orange yellow color. 

Mrs. Wm. H, Rand ( Vaughan). — A very decorative 
and graceful variety. Flowers large and full. Florets 
narrow, and of light texture; color deep yellow. See plate. 

Nellie Elverson (Hill 6^ Cb.).— Stem four feet in 
height, stout and erect. Flower extra large, deep and full. 
Florets incurved; firm in texture ; color bronze. 

Nemesis (Ma^^. — Stems two and a half feet high, 
strong and erect. Flower medium size; full and very 



decorative Florets spreading, medium width, color deli- 
cate pink. 

Nyanza (Smith &• &;«) — Stem three and a half feet 
high, very strong. Flower large and full. Florets loosely 
incurved; color bright crimson, golden reverse. 

Oakland (Domcr &' Son). — Stem from four to five feet 
high, straight and strong. Flower massive and full; glob- 
ular in form. Florets somewhat reflexed, and of a bright 
terra cotta color. 

Octoroon (Spaulding) — Stem dwarf, strong and erect. 
Flower large and full. Florets incurved, firm in texture; 
bright red. 

Olympus (.]/<n'). — Stem four feet high, moderately 
strong. Flower very large and full. Florets informally 
incurved; broad; strong in texture; white, shaded pink. 
See plate. 

Parting Quest (Spaulding).— K very late varietv. 
Stem dwarf, stout and straight. Flower very large and 
full. Florets incurved; white, tinged rose, 

Philadelphia (Graham). — Strong in growth, with erect 
stems about four and a half feet high Flower large and 
globular. Florets pure white, tipped lemon-yellow. This 
variety is the result of a cross between Marguerite Graham 
and Mrs. C. Lippincott. See plate. 

Radiance (Hill &> Co.). — Stem three and a half feet 
high, strong and erect. Flower of good size; full and 
perfect. Florets incurved; broad; firm in texture; bright 
yell:)w. 

Shavings ( Vaughan). — The flower of this variety is 
interesting, but it has little to recommend it from a com- 
mercial or decorative standpoint. 

Sunrise (May). — Stem three feet high, stout and erect. 
Flower large and full. Florets reflexed, a few in center 
incurved; very broad; bright terra cotta red. 

Thalia (Smith &• Son). — Stem four and a half feet high, 
good and strong. Flower large and full. Florets spread- 
ing; firm in texture; pale pink, shaded with rose. 

The Egyptian (A^i7/&^ Ci).). — Stem four feet high, 
stout and stiff. Flower very large, deep and of excellent 
form. Florets incurved; firm in texture; and of a striking 
shade of dark red. 

Trilby (May). — Stem three and a half feet high; good 
in strength. Flower large, full and of graceful form. 
Florets spreading; pure white. 

W. B. Dinsmore (Pitcher df Manda). — Stem stout 
and erect. Flower of medium size; very full Florets 
irregularly incurved; strong in texture; color deep yellow. 

Zipangi (Smith &' Son). — Stem five feet in height, 
strong and erect. Flower very large and full. Florets 
partially incurved and reflexed ; color crimson lake, buff 
reverse. 

Zulinda (May). — Stem three feet high, stout and erect. 
Flower very large and full. Florets well incurved ; broad; 
strong in substance ; bright pink, reverse of lighter shade. 

— M, B. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



Cape Difficulties — About ten years ago, when the 
phylloxera was beginning to show the damage it could do, 
our Cape legislators thought it prudent to prohibit the 
importation of plants of all kinds under any condition. 
That law remained in force until two years ago, when it 
was modified so as to allow bulbs, potatoes, etc., to be 
imported, also plants packed without earth. During the 
past year there has been a further relaxation, and plants 
are now allowed to land in soil to be washed out on arrival. 
The result of these laws, which were stringently carried 
out, has been that except the miserable varieties introduced 
long ago, we have had no Chrysanthemums at all until 
within the past year. JNIany kinds have now been im- 
ported, but these, as also their local treatment, are still in 
the experiment stage, though we are hopeful of their 
becoming quite popular here. I expect you will find it the 
same throughout South Africa, except in Natal, which was 
not included in the above legislation. — Thos. K. Sim, 
King IVil/iains Town, South Africa, 

Boston Exhibitions.— The first record we have of the 
exhibition of Chrysanthemums in this country was in 1S30, 
when seventeen varieties were shown at the exhibition of 
the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. The first prizes 
were offered in 1S61, to the amount of seventeen dollars 
only. In 1S6S the exhibition was first styled the Chrysan- 
themum Show, and the prizes were increased to fifty-five 
dollars. These had all been Saturday shows, from twelve 
to three o'clock, but in iSyg it was held on Wednesday 
from noon to ten o'clock in the evening, with prizes to the 
amount of one hundred and fifty dollars. In 1S82, though 
planned for only one day, it was so good and so much 
interest was taken in it that it was kept open two days, and 
this was continued until 1886, when it lasted three days 
In 1S90 it was planned for three days but was kept open 
four days, as has been done since. Until 1SS8 fruits and 
vegetables were shown with the Chrysanthemums, but that 
year it was devoted wholly to these flowers. — Robert 
Manning, Boston, Mass. 

Historical Jottings. — My recollection of the Chrysan- 
themum dates back over sixty years. We had then in our 
gardens Tasselled Yellow, Incurved Pink, Incurved Red, 
White and a few others. About 183S (I write from mem- 
ory) Messrs. Chandler & Sons, of Yauxhall, London, Eng- 
land, imported a set of seedlings from France, and this 
gave an impetus to their cultivation. The Messrs. Chand- 
ler followed the same line of work for some years, offering 
new varieties annually. Mr. Salter, then of Versailles, 
France, next appeared in the field, and likewise had sets of 
new sorts for sale every year up to the revolution of 1848, 
when he removed to London. His subsequent work, and 
the introductions in which Mr. Fortune had been instru- 
mental in his various trips to China and Japan, are matters 
of common knowledge. In relation to the introduction of 
the plant into this country, I can give but little information. 
43 



When I came in 1851. I found a very good collection 
grown by Mr Robert Buist, ol Philadelphia. These 
were Chinese and pompon varieties. The Japanese were 
not known till a few years later. When Japan was opened 
up to commerce, Robert Fortune J. G. Veitch and Thomas 
Hogg sought out the worthy novelties, and what we now 
know as Japanese varieties were soon to be found in both 
American and European gardens — John Saul, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

Fragrant Varieties,— A variety whose flowers possess 
every worthy feature except perfume can be crossed with 
one in which the flowers are fragrant but otherwise inferior, 
thus producing, it may be, a variety with the desirable 
characters of both parents. There is here a wide field for 
useful and perhaps profitable experiment, and one in which 
the labors and pleasures may be shared by the humblest 
grower of plants. The best fragrant Chrysanthemums 
known in gardens — and the list is the most complete yet 
published — are as follows : Chrysipe, a good flower with 
incurving florets of bright rosy-purple color, edged white ; 
Cullingfordii, a beautiful velvety crimson, florets reflexed ; 
Dr. Sharpe, rich amaranth purple, florets reflexed ; 
Exquisite, a pure white single-flowered variety, with long, 
narrow florets ; Faust, one of the best incurved sorts, 
florets bright purple; Gus Harris, a single flower of 
medium size, outer florets bright lilac; Miss Annie Manda, 
an interesting and very beautiful variety, flowers pure 
white and hairy ; Mrs. Langtry, flowers single and of pale 
rose color ; Nymphtea, a pure white single variety, florets 
incurving with age ; and Progne, deep purple flowers of 
medium size, florets reflexed. The last named variety is 
undoubtedly the best Chrysanthemum for fragrance in cul- 
tivation. It blooms most profusely, and the odor is strong, 
closely resembling that of the Violet. The fragrance of 
the others is sweet and agreeable, but indescribable, except 
in Dr. Sharpe, which takes after Progne, and in Gus 
Harris, with its Hawthorn-like perfume. — Weekly Budget. 

Some Early Seedlings.— The first seedlings raised 
around Boston were those of Dr. H. P. Walcott, of Cam- 
bridge, who placed on exhibition some eight or ten plants 
in small pots. In some of these plants the flowers were 
single, and in others double or semi-double. As I remem- 
ber them, they seemed to have been very inferior, 
measured by our present standard; but they gave new life 
to Chrysanthemum culture. They set the ball rolling, and 
that it has continued to roll with most satisfactory results 
is evident at every succeeding exhibition in the land. Up 
to about 1884, there had been nothing done in the way of 
artificial fertilization of Chrysanthemums, and it had even 
been claimed that it was impossible to accomplish cross- 
fertilization upon them. I determined to try the experi- 
ment, and it resulted in the production of President Hyde. 
H. A. Gane and several other varieties. We had the 
variety Source d'Or at that time, and I admired its habit 



44 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



very much, and thought that if a bright yellow could be 
obtained with the same habit, it would be a fine thing. 
I therefore used this variety as the seed parent, and 
obtained pollen with which to fertilize it from the old 
blight yellow variety Fulton. This resulted in quite a 
number of seedlings, among which was the one afterward 
named President Hyde. The variety H. A. Gane, was the 
result of a cross between Source d'Or and a pink French 
variety. These seedlings were placed on exhibition in 
Boston in the autumn of 1886, and were the first exhibited 
in this country from hand fertilized seed. — Arthur H. 
I-i-a'kcs, Nf'flon Hii;hlands. Mass. 

A Chemical Analysis. — During the past six years 
Dr. A. B. Griffiths, F. R. S., (Edin.), has made complete 
analyses of a number of garden flowers, and I have now 
been favored by him with an analysis of the Chrysanthe- 
mum, which he has conducted duringthe past season. The 
analysis is on the entire plant in a state of maturity, and 
was obtained from a mi.xture of several plants, all in the 
same condition of growth. 

Cofuposition of the Chrysanthemum in Patts ^tr 100 of 

the Ash. 

Per cent. 

Potash - _-.l6 23 

Soda , - ...10.39 

Lime - 26.28 

Magnesia. - 10.22 

Phosphoric acid.. 1952 

Iron oxide 3^6 

Sulphuric acid .- 4-65 

Silica — 5-99 

Chlorine 306 

The fresh plants contained of albuminoid nitrogen 2.92 
per cent. The data thus given are remarkable in several 
particulars, and show that if healthy, vigorous, and richly- 
blooming plants are to be obtained, the plant- food supplies 
must be of a complete nature, and in an easily assimilable 



form for sustenance and nourishment. In the first place, 
the large quantity of albuminoid nitrogen shows pretty 
clearly that unless nitrogenous food is supplied the plants 
will starve. Many persons do not appear to realize how 
plants languish in such a small-quantity of soil as is possi- 
ble to be got into an ordinary garden pot ; how the plants 
sicken and fall victims to fungi, etc., for want of nourish- 
ment. The ash constituents show the absolute necessity 
for a very full and complete supply of mineral ingredients, 
and the drain there is upon the soil for the five elements 
placed first on the list. Potash and phosphoric acid are not 
in such large proportion as in some other garden flowers 
analyzed by Dr. Griffiths, but soda, lime, and magnesia are 
greatly in excess. In regard to the food supply of the 
Chrysanthemum, guano should prove a useful manure, to 
which bone meal might be added, applying about one-fourth 
of an ounce to each five pounds of soil. The following 
manurial mixtures may be recommended ; 

Parts. 

Nitrate of potash (saltpetre) i 

Phosphate soda 2 

Sulphate iron - 0% 

Magnesia (Epsom salts) .- 2 

Superphosphate of lime 3 

Or this— ■ „ ^ 

Parts. 

Kainit.. - 3 

Sulphate iron - oj^ 

Superphosphate 3 

Nitrate soda I 

Apply one-fourth of an ounce of the mixture to each four 
pounds of soil, well incorporated before potting. The 
plants may be watered every three weeks with the above 
mixtures, putting one-fourth of an ounce of the manure to 
each gallon of water. This may be given up to the period 
of flowering. Sulphate of iron imparts a dark green color 
to the leaves, and tends to keep the plants free from 
disease. — y. y. IVillis in the Gardeners' Chronicle. 




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